CAMPAINGERS are celebrating after a plan for up to 220 homes in Longridge was rejected by Ribble Valley councillors.

At a meeting in Clitheroe on Thursday night, members of the Planning and Development Committee voted 10-0 to refuse Taylor Wimpy’s application for Dilworth Lane and Blackburn Road, with two abstentions.

The councillors overturned the officer’s recommendation that it should be moved on to the next phase in the planning process.

The council had received 196 letters of objection from campaigners before the meeting in the council chamber in Church Street.

Matt Britcliffe of the Save Longridge campaign group, who spoke at the meeting, said: “There is an overwhelming opposition to this from all parties, Nigel Evans, the town council, the hundreds who have written to the council and the thousands who have signed petitions.”

Coun Ged Mirfin said: “I received 200 e-mails from campaigners about this particular application.

“This strategic site is in the wrong place and is on land that is unsuitable for development in Longridge.”

Greg Dickson, who spoke on behalf of Taylor Wimpy, said: “Longridge has failed to develop new housing over the last six years and the shortfall is significant.”

However, residents in Clitheroe were left disappointed after a decision on an application to build 275 homes in Waddington Road was deferred.

Councillors voted 8-4 to defer their final approval until further work had been carried out by the director of community services.

Almost 350 letters of objection were sent to the council before the meeting.

The ‘Waddow View’ plan for Clitheroe was submitted to the council in July by applicants The Huntroyde Estate, Clitheroe Auction Mart, John Taylor, Sarah Howard and Samantha Howard after the previous scheme was rejected at appeal.

Coun Ian Brown said: “Enough is enough with Clitheroe. The traffic is going to be horrendous and we just can’t cope with it.

“It’s about time that we stood up and stopped worrying about appeals and fought for our residents.”

Coun Sue Bibby said that she could find no planning reason to object to the plan.