AN MP has accused Bradford Council of ignoring his constituents' concerns.

Philip Davies says the local authority is ploughing ahead with a strategy "it knows is flawed and won't be delivered".

He spoke out after last-ditch efforts to force the council to slash its housing targets failed.

It was decided at the latest full council meeting to ratify a key part of the controversial Local Plan.

The plan's core strategy sets out the need for 42,100 new homes by 2030, as well as providing a blueprint for industry and infrastructure.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Labour's portfolio holder for planning, said that without a strategy the district was a developer free-for-all.

He added that only two per cent of the greenbelt would be earmarked for development.

But Bingley Rural councillor Simon Cooke, leader of the Conservative group on the council, said developers didn't want to build in the inner city and too many expensive homes would be constructed in leafy areas.

Tory Mr Davies – whose Shipley constituency includes Cullingworth and Denholme – said this week he would be urging the new housing minister, Alok Sharma, to intervene to ensure greenbelt is protected.

"All that will happen under this strategy is houses earmarked for the greenbelt will be built and those in the inner-city areas will not be built," added Mr Davies.

"This is yet another reason why the Shipley and Keighley constituencies need to break away from Bradford Council and set-up their own local authority.

"All our area is to Bradford Council is a council tax cash cow for it to spend in the inner-city Labour heartlands."

Mr Davies, with former Keighley Conservative MP Kris Hopkins, has long campaigned for the neighbouring constituencies to become autonomous from City Hall.