A PETITION calling for the protection of the Ribble Valley from housing developers is to be presented to the House of Commons.

The borough’s MP, Nigel Evans, is planning to deliver the 900-signature petition, which claims the Valley is ‘under siege’ from excessive development.

The petition was set up by the Save Longridge campaign. after developers, including Miller Homes, Taylor Wimpey and Barratts Homes have submitted plans for 406, 220 and 500 homes respectively in the town.

Some 500 Longridge residents attended a town council meeting to discuss ‘over development’ in the town and the borough.

A plan for 504 homes in Barrow was passed earlier this year by the Planning Inspectorate with an application for 1,040 properties in Clitheroe approved by Ribble Valley Council in December.

Mr Evans said: “I will set out the case against excessive development in Longridge in particular and other parts of the Ribble Valley where the same arguments are equally applicable.”

The petition states that ‘small rural towns and villages like Longridge, Clitheroe and Whalley up and down the country are under siege from housing developers seeking to build excessive numbers of homes to encourage people to migrate from industrial towns and cities to rural communities’.

Longridge councillor Ken Hind said: “As a community we want parliament to note the strength of feeling in Longridge and the Ribble Valley about excessive housing development.

“Parliament should be aware of the ‘Save Longridge’ petition signed by residents calling for Ribble Valley Borough Council to remain faithful to its own Local Development Plan or Core Strategy in keeping the number of new homes to 633 to 2028.

“There is a race between three major house builders in Longridge Miller Homes, Taylor Wimpey and Barratts Homes to get their planning consents before the Core Strategy is finalised and avoid its consequences.

“We want to end this type of race and have more gradual development over the life of the local development plan to 2028.”

For more information on visit: www.petitions24.com/save_longridge.