PLANS for 36 homes close to a ‘semi-rural’ school have been unanimously rejected by councillors.

Beck Developments, which is based in Blackburn, intended to build 36 homes on land just north of The Meadows, off Red Lane in Colne.

But residents living on The Meadows and staff and parents from nearby Sacred Heart RC School objected to the plans – and councillors on Pendle’s Development Management Committee agreed with them.

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Among the concerns expressed were the drainage and flooding problems already experienced on The Meadows and down to the North Valley Community Centre.

There was also consternation that a 1.5m ‘service strip’, which residents on The Meadows had believed belonged to their properties and has been looked after and landscaped, would be turned into a footpath under the plans which had been submitted.

Fears had also been expressed about vehicle access to the cul-de-sac with an additional 136 vehicle movements a day anticipated.

John Robertshaw, head teacher at Sacred Heart, said: “The children, staff and parents are delighted that the proposed development has again been rejected.

“The new houses would have had a hugely detrimental impact on the school and local area.

“As a semi-rural school our children benefit enormously from the privacy and safety of our school playing and learning areas which abut onto open fields.

“The proposed development would have changed our school for ever.

“The local community, especially local residents from The Meadows, have been fantastic in opposing each development application over the last 18 months and we are very grateful for their continued support.

“We do however hope that this is the final application, as it is quite clear that nobody in the local community wants or needs this type of development.”

Councillor Joe Cooney, leader of Pendle council, represents the area.

He said: “There has been four well-attended residents’ meetings and universal opposition to the plans.

“Access was a big concern and the plans in their present form were clearly not suitable.”

At the time of going to press nobody from Beck Developments had as yet responded to our requests for a comment.