RESIDENTS in the Ribble Valley have formed an action group to fight a planning application to build 50 houses in their village.

The Hammon Ground Residents Group is campaigning against the proposals submitted to Ribble Valley Council to build the homes on the land, between Whalley Road and George Lane in Read.

According to legend the field is said to contain the remains of those who fought in The Battle of Read Old Bridge in 1643 as well as old mine shafts.

The proposals include 33 bungalows for over 55s, 17 houses and 120 car parking spaces.

Martin Crabtree, one of the members, said the village's natural beauty would be tarnished by the build and the development could lead to more houses as a result of a 'loop hole' in the council's core strategy development plan.

Mr Crabtree said the strategy's aim is to build a minimum 45 houses in the village by 2028.

The rule also states that any build must have 15 per cent of houses dedicated to over 55s.

The proposed development has more houses dedicated to over 55s than the required percentage and Mr Crabtree said the applicant would be able to get around this through building more bungalows.

The Read resident said: "We see it as a loop hole in the system and we think the applicant will be able to get away with building double the required houses by building over 55s bungalows.

"Another serious issue is the village's infrastructure, it would not be able to cope with the extra inhabitants.

"As the proposals say, the bungalows would be for those over the age of 55, we don't have a doctor in the village, we don't have a village hall and we only have one convenience store.

"The parish council did a questionnaire last year about why residents lived in the village and one of the main points was the semi-rural nature of the village.

"The new houses would be removing one of the big reasons why people live here."

The proposed plan includes new areas of public open space alongside a wildflower meadow and new water habitat.

In a planning statement from the application, a trustee spokesman said: "The development will offer an attractive, very low-density residential extension to the village that has been designed to reflect the character of the area and existing properties in Read."

The council is set to rule on the proposed plan later this year.