Hundreds sign up to homes plan protest

STUART PIKE

MORE than 500 people have signed a petition protesting against a planning application for 71 houses.

McDermott Homes has applied to Rossendale council for a development of three and four-bedroom homes in Bacup. The public consultation ends on Friday, June 28.

Last week we reported the Pennine/Fieldfare Way Residents Association had formed following the proposal for land known as the Back Meadows.

Dozens of residents bearing placards got together at the site this week.

A change.org petition, created by Rob Wells, states that the land ‘is an important asset to the local community and a safe play area for our children’.

Other objections cited include ‘plentiful local wildlife’, ‘stretched capacity’ on primary schools and local services, access, traffic and road safety issues.

It also complains that Rossendale council is refusing to disclose details of proposed land sales - discussed at last month’s full council meeting with public and press excluded. The council confirmed they are selling off the land.

The petition adds: “Our

councillors are in the process of selling the councilowned land here without any public consultation and in meetings closed from public scrutiny. These same councillors will be voting on the planning application with questions around their impartiality.”

McDermott Homes say they ‘have achieved longstanding investment for the Bacup township’ and ‘are committed to the level of investment required for this project in Bacup over the next couple of years’.

In response to the objections, they say a transport statement concludes that the site is sustainable and there are no local safety issues, and that traffic flows are ‘low’ compared to surrounding roads, while green spaces are incorporated into the plan and negotiations in respect of recreation facilities as part of a section 106 planning agreement will be ongoing throughout the application.

They say an ecology appraisal confirms there will be no adverse effect, and a small increase in population will not have a detrimental impact on social infrastructure.

Land director Andrew Darbyshire added: “The submission version of the Rossendale Local Plan 2019-34 was consulted on ●● Campaigners against a planning application for the ‘Back Meadows’, off Pennine Road/Fieldfare Way in Bacup during August 2018 and this document seeks to allocate land to meet the housing requirement of 3,180 houses over the Plan period. The submitted strategy identifies that the majority of new housing will be located in and around the main centres of Rawtenstall and Bacup with these centres accommodating in total around 50pc of the housing requirement for the borough as a whole.

“The application site is located within the urban boundary of Bacup and is therefore identified as a residential allocation (H29) which is expected to accommodate up to 84 residential dwellings in years 1-5 of the new plan period.

“However, due to level constraints, a more realistic level of provision/ reduced density as is being proposed of 71 dwellings and these will come forward within the next three years.”

A council spokesman said: “Unfortunately we cannot comment on details of the sale as it was part of a confidential meeting but we are currently in the process of selling it.

“In terms of the planning application, there is a formal process to go through and we would urge residents to comment through the proper channels.”