CONTROVERSIAL plans to build 270 homes on a rural site near Colne have been postponed by councillors so independent surveys could be completed.

More than 400 people packed into Colne’s Municipal Hall to hear the fate of proposals by Junction Property Ltd to construct a sprawling new estate at The Rough, off Castle Road and Windermere Avenue.

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Campaigners from Lidgett and Beyond have insisted that the access arrangements, even moved away from Skipton Old Road, would be potentially hazardous for Park High students.

Residents were also worried about the potential increase in traffic, the results of an ecology report being submitted by the developers, the heritage value of the site, air pollution, flooding risks, and amenities being over stretched.

Protester Jerry Stanford said: “Parked cars along the Windermere Avenue access has not taken into consideration.

“The impact on traffic on North Valley Road has also not been considered by the traffic report.”

Andrew Stephenson, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Pendle who is standing in next month’s election, said: “It is completely unsustainable, “I have serious concerns about the traffic and the impact the development will have on the area.

“There are currently applications passed in Pendle for 982 houses that haven’t been built as well as 2,000 empty homes.

“Access to the Rough is poor. If these two applications are successful it will be a scar on the landscape.

Azhar Ali, Labour’s parliamentary candidate, said: “The ecological survey was done on October 15 and 16, which is not the right time of year and was not carried out for long enough to get a full picture.

“The reports are shy in their estimates for run off water. We need to unlock brownfield sites before we build in green fields..”

Michael Courcier, spokesman for Junction, said all of the technical relevant surveys had been done in accordance with requirements and that there had not been any objections on any grounds stated by residents.

He added: “Pendle is not delivering enough housing to meet the needs.

“I understand your concerns. However there is a housing crisis in this area.”

Before the Colne area committee voted to defer the application, council leader Cllr Joe Cooney said more impartial assessments were needed before a final decision could be taken on the scheme.