A FORMER council leader has failed in a bid to prevent a major extension at one of East Lancashire’s largest industrial estates.

Council bosses in Pendle had earmarked Lomeshaye, near Nelson, as their prime target for economic expansion as part of the borough’s ‘core strategy’.

But Coun John David, who represents Old Laund Booth and formerly led the authority for the Liberal Democrats, has questioned the merits of extending Lomeshaye when a number of other old industrial sites would remain untouched.

He told a meeting of the full council that not only would developers be given ‘bribes’ from Pendle’s newly-acquired Assisted Area status, but they would also be allowed to rip up the surrounding countryside.

He said: “We should be reusing land so we are not gobbling up the greenbelt. And we can do that if we redevelop brownfield land.”

Coun David Whipp said such an approach would also assist areas of the borough which suffered from high unemployment rates. But Labour group leader Coun Mohammed Iqbal said that extending Lomeshaye was the most clear-cut strategic option, as it could be linked with other M65 corridor projects at Burnley Bridge, Network 65, Junction 7 and Whitebirk, near Blackburn.

Coun Iqbal said: “The reality is that big business, that will bring good jobs to the borough, will not relocate to some of our brownfield sites because they want easy access to the motorway.

“And the one place that has that is Lomeshaye industrial estate.”

Council leader Coun Joe Cooney said that Lomeshaye would also link in with the borough’s ambitious plans for Brierfield Mill.

Land at Trough Laithe Farm in Barrowford has been identified as having the greatest potential for housing development.

The core strategy will go out to consultation for six weeks, beginning this month.