KEIGHLEY pressure group BANDAG will take part in a top-level planning conference in London next week.

The campaigners have been invited to visit Westminster to put their views to MPs serving on the Communities and Local Government committee.

BANDAG members hope to present their concerns about how government guidelines introduced two years ago are affecting housing development across the UK.

The committee has organised the discussion forum on Monday (September 1) to look at how the National Planning Policy Framework is operating.

The framework influences how local authorities, including Bradford Council, deal with planning applications.

Monday’s forum will allow MPs on the committee to hear a wide range of views from groups across UK.

They will look at how housing demand in England should be met, the relationship between planning and ‘localism’, and whether changes need to be made to the framework.

Although the framework has been generally welcomed by large housebuilders, have been concerns over issues such as land supply, delays in planning decisions, and government performance targets for councillors.

BANDAG was among groups invited to the forum after submitting a detailed written report earlier this year, raising several issues relating to the framework.

BANDAG spokesman Barbara Archer said she hoped that on Monday her members would be able to discuss the issues raised in their document.

She said: “Our town is going through a critical time in its history, and its future success or failure depends on the decisions made by politicians and town planners who are holding office now.”

BANDAG – which stands for the Braithwaite And North Dean Action Group – was originally set up by Keighley people to campaign against Barrett’s plans to build housing off North Dean Road.

As Barratt’s Vision estate approached completion the group expanded into other areas including the protection of the nearby North Beck from housing development.

It has since published several reports aimed at influencing district-wide strategies regarding housing, planning and the environment.

BANDAG’s main campaigns include encouraging more ‘brownfield’ development, and reopening blocked footpaths.

BANDAG has called for more “green links” between town and country for walkers, cyclists and horse riders; the reopening of illegally-closed footpaths; and protection for existing rights of way when housing is built across them.

The group also campaigns for more houses to be built on “brownfield” sites, such as former industrial land, rather than encroaching on the green belt.