`

AN EMERGENCY appeal for donors has been made by protestors who are trying to raise £10,000 to protect the green belt.

The Yorkshire Greenspace Alliance staged a rush hour procession at Horsforth Roundabout on Monday, with a grim reaper, a 'wild deer' on life support and costumed protestors.

'Doctors' with megaphones appealed for donations and handed out flyers to queuing motorists on the A65.

Alliance chairman Martin Hughes said: "The event allowed YGA to get to more people and the donations have flowed in since – over £1,000. The money is being raised so that YGA can fund a specialist planning barrister to represent it at the forthcoming Site Allocation hearing in October 2017.

"The Inspectors at the hearing will test the site allocation plan against a Core Plan that could change, as Leeds has announced a review of the housing number. It seems likely to reduce from 70,000 to 55,000 dwellings in a revised plan period 2017 to 2033. It seems daft to test a plan against a masterplan that will change."

The YGA has engaged an expert planning barrister to represent their members at the public hearings of the government inspection of Leeds City Council’s Site Allocation Plan. They say they are fighting to save the Leeds green belt from unnecessary destruction and they are appealing for public support.

The alliance is made up of small community action groups from across the area covered by the West Yorkshire Combined Authorities, including Leeds, Bradford, Barnsley, Wakefield and York.

Horsforth Roundabout, which is a notorious hotspot for traffic will be one of a number of fund-raising venues.

The group said: "Semi-rural communities connected by the A65 - including Hawksworth, Guiseley, Yeadon, Rawdon and Horsforth - will see 10,500 houses built on their GreenBelt borders - currently protecting them from urban sprawl - should the plan go ahead."

In July Leeds City Council accepted it was 'likely' the future housing target would be 'reduced to reflect what we know now'.