Locals interested in Back Meadows bid

ARESIDENTS group striving to block any development of a greenfield site is considering its options after the land was nominated as an Asset of Community Value (ACV).

The Pennine/Field Fare Residents Association is now deciding whether to put together a bid to buy the land, known locally in Bacup as the Back Meadows.

Campaigners were celebrating last December after Rossendale council’s development control committee rejected McDermott Homes’ planning application to build 71 houses on the 3.2-hectare site.

The situation is clouded because it is understood there are three different parcels of land which make up the whole site, nominated as an ACV on January 28.

Notice of intention to sell of one of those parcels - land to the south east of Pennine Road was submitted on January 30.

The residents group has until March 12 to express an interest in bidding for the land, otherwise the owner can continue to sell it.

If they do express an interest they will then have a further four months to submit a bid to buy the land on the open market.

Janet Boon, who chairs the residents group, said:

“It’s a difficult one because we are not sure of who is selling the land in question.

“There are three people who own the land.

“If we try to buy it who puts a valuation on the land?

“Can the council give it to us for a pound?

“I’m waiting for all this information to come back so I can say we can do this or do that.”

Rossendale council said they have not received an appeal against the ACV listing. Their spokesman said: “Owners are permitted to sell their land to whoever they choose as long as they don’t conclude a sale during a moratorium period.”

Planning committee members unanimously overturned officers’ recommendation of approval, concluding that the drawbacks of the scheme had been downplayed and outweighed their benefits.