A CONTROVERSIAL decision to approve a new £4.25million village school is being challenged by people living nearby.

Campaigners who have fought the replacement Laneshawbridge Primary have referred the matter to the Local Government Ombudsman.

And the neighbours in the Pendle village have not ruled out trying to obtain a judicial review of the ruling, by Lancashire County Council’s development control committee.

Neighbour Les Mort is incensed, in particular, by the dismissal of an alternative school site, off Sheridan Road.

Education bosses had rejected the land, saying it presented ‘severe access difficulties’ and could only be reached by narrow roads through an adjacent estate, which already had parking issues.

But Mr Mort said: “The roads are over three car widths wide. A large JCB has been operating along said roads for the last five months, between cars parked on each side of the roads.”

He is also angry that another alternative access route, along Alma Road, appeared to have been disregarded.

Mr Mort added: “ This formerly provided access to the old Hartley hospital, and consequently is wide, as ambulances would have had to pass each other.”

And while 23 homes would possibly be affected by the alternative site, he insists at least 60 along Emmott Lane would be hampered by the preferred option.

Other alternatives, including the existing site and land owned by the Emmott Trust, to the east of Emmott Lane, were also disregarded.

School governors and headteacher Eileen Bleasdale have welcomed the proposals, which will see the school roll increase from 174 to 210.

The school is one of Lancashire’s top performing primaries.