Environment agency threat to nature sanctuary

Villagers in Lomeshaye village, Nelson, created the Loamy Wood plant, water and wildlife sanctuary from rough land near the banks of Pendle Water.

The project scooped a Lancashire Evening Telegraph Grimewatch Award last year

Now they are angry over agency plans to take part of the land to build a road and car park for a local textile firm, as part of the anti-flooding project. They say that amounts to environmentally unfriendly behaviour from an organisation which should be protecting the environment.

Andrew Clifford, chairman of the Lomeshaye Villagers group which created the reserve says the agency is opting for the least-cost option - but one which will cause most damage. He wants Pendle councillors to reject the planning application for the scheme when it comes before them in October.

In the meantime the group is enlisting the support of MP, Gordon Prentice and council members in Nelson.

They group is challenging the agencies costs or whether the agency has any legal or moral obligation to provide the facility for the private company.

Mr Clifford claimed: "Not only would this particular scheme be disastrous for the reserve, but also for the village, in particular Calder Terrace residents who would have a car park and road in front of them."

A spokesman for the Environment Agency in Warrington said the preferred scheme was one of four options under consideration. All would have an impact on someone and we must take all matters into consideration, not least the question of best value for money."

"We want a scheme acceptable to everybody concerned and that is why we intend to have an open public exhibition on the project at Nelson and Colne College at Reedyford next month. There will be full consultations before any decision is arrived at or planning application put to the council."

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