HOLIDAY cottages planned for Salterforth have been ditched on appeal.

The cottages would have been built on land within a field close to the farmhouse at Bashfield Farm in Kelbrook Road.

But government inspector Gary Deane agreed with the Pendle Council officers’ assertion that they would harm the character and appearance of the area.

A 120-name petition in favour of the cottages had been submitted.

Mr Deane said he had taken into account concerns from the farmer that his business might be harmed without income from the cottages, but there was little evidence to support such fears.

He said: “A petition containing 120 signatories is testimony to the considerable public support for the proposal, but while I have given careful consideration to this support, it does not outweigh the harm I have identified.”

The visibility of the development from Kelbrook Road and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal were also problematic.

He added: “When viewed from the canal in particular, the appeal scheme would be a prominent and intrusive form of development in an area where this should generally be restricted.”