PLANS to extend a historic cottage in the centre of a picturesque Ribble Valley village have met with a storm of protest.

Ribble Valley Council's planning committee will decide next Thursday whether a scheme to erect a kitchen at a former weaver's cottage in Shaw Terrace, Grindleton, can go ahead.

Grindleton Parish Council claims the cottage's unique character will be spoiled by the proposed extension and 10 residents have written letters of objection.

Parish councillors also claim the two-storey extension at the back of the end terrace property will violate a public right of way and severely affect the flow of traffic in Main Street.

Residents have said the development will obscure their view, spoil the country cottage street scene and take the property out of the price range of local young people.

And planners will recommend refusal on the grounds of visual impact when the scheme comes up before councillors.

Ribble Valley Council planning officer Mark Ollerenshaw said: "The extension would radically alter the character of this fairly uniform row of small country cottages, which form an attractive and traditional feature of the centre of the village.

"I believe approval of this scheme would lead to other cottages in the row being extended, resulting in an overcrowded and cramped appearance, and loss of this special character."