‘Extensive’ work near conservation area
STUART PIKE
COUNCIL bosses say no enforcement action is planned despite “intense frustration” over works near a conservation area.
Rossendale council leader and ward councillor Alyson Barnes said “extensive” development work has been carried out in recent weeks at the Kippax Mill site, on Goodshawfold Road, Goodshaw.
Three summers ago magistrates agreed to issue an injunction to halt excavation work at the site.
That was after the council said landowner Peter Cordwell failed to comply with a temporary stop notice they had issued, while it established whether the works had planning permission.
In a statement to the Free Press last week, Coun Barnes said: “Extensive work has been carried out at the site during the Covid lockdown.
“Peter Cordwell has now agreed to put forward a planning application for the whole site. This will enable planners to look at the work in the round and will enable local residents to comment on the works.
“The site is an employment site, however it is close to a conservation area; it is important that we get this right.”
A council spokesperson said: “There is an extant court order in place restricting certain works on the site, but following a recent onsite meeting with the landowner, a retrospective planning application will be submitted and no planning enforcement action will be taken at this present time. Correspondence with private planning consultants has already taken place.”
A resident, who wished
●● Works taking place at the site on Goodshawfold Road, Goodshaw not to be named, said: “We think the plan is for containers and storage or skip hire, and dread additional traffic and extended hours of work.
“We are already suffering from heavy good vehicles coming down this narrow country lane. The frustration in this little hamlet is intense.”
Rossendale MP Mr Berry said he has been in touch with the local council and the Environment Agency and will “support them if any enforcement action is required.”
He added: “Rossendale has suffered from damaging floods in recent years, so any unauthorised development near our local rivers and waterways is extremely serious.
The Environment Agency visited the site in March following reports from the public.
A spokesperson said: “A follow up visit was undertaken in August in line with government advice to further assess the works being carried out. Initial investigations by engineers do not believe that local flood risk will be increased because of these works, however the Environment Agency will continue to look into this issue and will work with the site owner and Rossendale council.”