Rossendale Council in countryside digging action threat

Rossendale Council intervened after residents around Goodshaw Fold complained about diggers moving onto nearby countryside.

Discussions between officials and landowner Peter Cordwell over whether his proposed works had the necessary planning permission failed to resolve the issue.

Then the local authority issued a ‘Temporary Stop Notice’ to halt works, while further discussion to regularise the situation took place.

The land, know as Kippax Factory, is near the conservation area-protected Goodshaw Fold village and lies between Crawshawbooth and Loveclough.

It is close to an existing industrial development housing Kenross Containers Ltd at Kippax Mill who are unconnected with the dispute.

Now after works on the land, including to an empty building and digging into a hillside, continued, the council was considering seeking a court injunction to stop the activity.

Cllr Alyson Barnes , council leader, said: “The landowner has completely ignored us in this regard which I find outrageous.

“We take the concerns of local residents very seriously, as well as the flagrant flouting of the correct planning procedures, and so we have been left with no option but to take further enforcement action.

“We are determined to clamp down on this sort of thing.

“We believe these works require planning permission and have asked Mr Cordwell to halt them, while we discuss regularising the situation.

“He has ignored us and we are now considering further enforcement action including going to court for an injunction to prevent them.

“This work is damaging beautiful countryside and is close to the Goodshaw Fold Village Conservation area and should not go ahead without proper permissions and conditions.

“We will go to the High Court if we have to.”

The Lancashire Telegraph was unable to contact Mr Cordwell.

The council said its has evidence Mr Cordwell had moved diggers onto the site earlier this month without the necessary permissions.