Barrow residents latest to oppose Ribble Valley housing plans

The Save Barrow Village group has been set up to battle any potential large housing developments.

It comes after each council in the country was asked to allow more homes to be built to plug a housing shortage.

Ribble Valley has not got as far as designating sites, but has drawn up five general proposals giving the number of houses it expects to be built in towns and villages.

One of the options is for 1,950 homes to be built in Barrow.

Wiswell councillor John Strong, spokesperson for the group, said: “We had a spirited meeting and we discussed all the options in the core strategy.

"Residents are concerned about how the infrastructure will cope."

Other options include up to 1,553 new homes in Clitheroe, 803 in Longridge, 321 in Whalley and 620 across 31 villages.

Last month, locals formed a residents’ association to protect the ‘character' of Sabden.

And the biggest objections to development have been voiced in Whalley.

Save Whalley Village Action group, which boasts hundreds of members, is holding weekly meetings to discuss potential plans for 321 more homes.

Coun Strong said: "We are really worried about these developments and their effect on our villages- the amenities, roads and sewers will not be able to cope with any more houses.”

Mother-of-one Sarah Parry, who has lived in Barrow for eight years, said: “These new homes will absolutely ruin our village and it will never be the same again.

"It will ruin what we bought into and our countryside will be lost.”

Last week, council chiefs moved to protect the historic centre of Whalley at a public inquiry into a proposed housing development.

Developers the Co-operative Group went head to head with council bosses at the two-day inquiry, which centred on an appeal against a council decision to reject a housing plan for up to 80 new homes on land near Riddings Lane.

A consultation before councillors decide which plan to implement, is open until 5pm on August 12.