A BRIERCLIFFE vicar has spoken out against plans for 60 new homes in the village.

Calico Homes announced the £6m plans last month to strong opposition from many residents.

It wants to build 48 two and three-bedroom houses and bungalows, as well as 12 sheltered flats, at the Primrose Mill site off Harrison Street.

A banner which read: ‘Say no to Calico’, was draped over a fence on the land after the project was unveiled.

Reverend Graham Sawyer, of St James’ Church in Church Street said: “Much of Briercliffe and Harle Syke in particular has been galvanised into action against the housing development proposed by Calico.

“I have been serving on the action committee to try to stop the development.

“It seems that the almost universal feeling amongst parishioners is that new homes are not wanted and that the proposal by Calico constitutes over-development of the area and a strain on the existing inadequate infrastructure.