A PROTEST group has been formed by residents to fight proposed housing developments in their village.

Love Sabden is aiming to protect the village from any further development, citing potential strain on highways, general infrastructure, environmental issues and quality of life for existing residents.

A petition has been started which will be handed to Ribble Valley Borough Council, and protesters have set up a Facebook group.

Becky Windsor, who lives in Pendleside Close, said: “The village has already been granted permission for over 130 new units, which is well over 10 per cent of the current population.

“This isn’t sensible and we believe it contravenes guidelines set out in the North West Regional Spatial Strategy to 2021.

“The most recent application for houses suggests that Sabden should take a large share of over 800 new units designated for outlying villages.

“We have already had over 130, how many more do town planners want to cram in?”

Sabden resident Louisa Sayer said: "The plan makes reference to outdated strategies from 2006, and refers to the wide range of essential services in the village. Existing residents know that this is simply not the case.

“The GP surgery is only a part-time facility and there is no police or emergency service provision for miles.”

A spokesperson for the Love Sabden group said: “There is no genuine concern for housing issues, as there are brand new builds lying empty in Sabden at Cobden Mill.”