A LOCAL authority boss has been warned the development of a site where 'nuclear waste' may have been buried could cause leukaemia in local children.

West Pennine ward's Cllr Neil Slater appealed to Blackburn with Darwen Council's growth boss Cllr Quesir Mahmood to drop controversial plans to develop the 94 acres of countryside between Belthorn and Guide near the M65 Junction 5.

There are fears that radioactive waste may have been buried in old mineshafts on the 'Green Belt' land earmarked for commercial units on which Blackburn's billionaire Issa brother have taken out a legal option.

Cllr Slater raised his fears at the council's executive board meeting on Thursday night.

It also received a 1,525 signature petition calling for the land to be removed from the borough's Local Plan allocating sites for development until 2037.

Cllr Slater asked Cllr Mahmood: "Are you going to listen to the depth of feeling of our residents and abandon this folly plan?

"So far no one has proved its worth on two points: spoiling the green belt and no one has been able to confirm what exactly nuclear waste is under there.

"If cases of leukaemia starts to show in the local primary school or any residents, are you going to take corporate responsibility for their illness because no one has proved to me beyond doubt what waste is under there as the 1950 records are opaque?

"We are not against building for employment, but we feel there are better places to build them without taking a gamble and putting our residents at risk.

"What is your answer to the people who have objected?

"And are you prepared to take that risk with their health and run roughshod over their opinion as you do not live there?

"It was buried there for a reason and we don't want it dug up and blowing across the area."

Cllr Mahmood replied: "There is no evidence to support rumours of nuclear waste buried on this land.

"The council has addressed the points you raise in previous reports to meetings of the executive board and council forum.

"The Local Plan 'Examination in Public' (which is currently underway) is able to consider any representations that were made during the consultation period held last year.

"This includes the specific matters raised by the petition and your question.

"Time has been set aside in a dedicated hearing session to address all relevant matters relating to the proposed strategic employment site. Those who made formal representations have been invited to attend and present their evidence to the planning inspectors.

"The council has fully engaged with all local stakeholders and national public bodies and no relevant evidence or reasoned objections have been received."

The petition says: "We want the green belt area of Belthorn and Guide removing from the plan.”