Council leader Peter Box slammed the government’s tactics over plans, put forward by a private sector bidder, to create an eco-town near Darrington, on the border between Wakefield district and Selby.

Wakefield Council, which only received a map of where the town – an area purpose-built to be more environmentally sustainable – could be located on Wednesday morning, said it would fight the proposals, which could be forced on them by the government.

Some of Wakefield’s Conservative councillors had accused the Labour-led council of a cover-up over the whole issue, which broke late last month.

Coun Bryan Denson, leader of the Wakefield Conservatives, said: “Had the council been slightly more open and transparent, then maybe we wouldn’t be in the mess we are in.”

Coun Box said the council had made its position clear in October, adding: “For the record, we are totally opposed to eco-towns in the district and there has been no attempt by the authority not to inform people.”

In a statement made after the meeting, Coun Denise Jeffery added: “We have major concerns that the government will be seeking to impose an eco-town, and we will be making those concerns clear in our letter to the department of communities and local government.”