THE Ribble Valley is ‘under siege’ from housing developers, according to a borough councillor.

Ken Hind, who represents Longridge and Dilworth, hit out at government policy and planning inspectors at the way housing rules have been implemented recently.

The borough council has yet to submit its core strategy and has been faced with numerous planning applications and appeals, sparking a protest outside the council chamber on Tuesday night.

Mr Hind said: “Unelected inspectors in planning appeals interpret the National Planning Policy Framework without the right of appeal to the courts to check if their conclusions are correct.

“Planning departments like ours locally are under huge pressure and have to interpret planning law in the light of day-to-day changes.

“You only ever destroy a green field once. It’s a precious commodity which can never be replaced.”