AN expert has outlined proposals to prevent one of East Lancashire's new superschools being flooded.

Ruth Goodall, a hydrologist and expert on flood risk, admitted the site of the proposed Unity College, planned as part of the £250 million Building Schools for the Future scheme, was at risk of flooding but said measures would be put in place to protect the buildings.

Miss Goodall was giving evidence on the second day of a four-day public inquiry into the plans. Inquiry inspector Jonathan King must decide whether Lancashire County Council should be allowed to compulsorily purchase the land needed for the new school from Burnley Council.

He must also decide if the county council should be given a certificate to ensure the CPO is not subject to special parliamentary rules.

Miss Goodall said: "Current planning guidance seeks to, wherever possible, steer new development away from areas at risk of flooding. However, in this instance, the environment agency did not find it appropriate to object to the application.

"In situations where develop-ment is approved within areas at potential risk of flooding it is prudent to consider the design and layout of the proposed development in relation to flood risk.

"The proposals for the new school have been designed to include measures to manage the flood risk to the develop-ment and to ensure no significant increase in flood risk to surrounding areas."

The measures will include raising the school above the level of flooding, an emer-gency access route in case the main access on Towneley Holmes Road is flooded, and a flood storage area. The inquiry also heard from traffic specialist Kate Morris, who said the school would provide better safety for pupils because the design would include dedicated footpaths and cycle paths.

The hearing heard living spaces for bats will be built into one Burnley superschool. The plans are part of prop-osals to minimise disruption for wildlife on or near the planned Unity College site.

Cameron Crook, a bio ecology consultant from Cameron S Crook and Associates in Preston, told Inquiry inspector Jonathan King that a full ecological survey of the site had been carried out and that wildlife including the bats, water voles and various types of bird would be protected.

He said evidence of bats had been found in the existing Towneley School. He said: "There will be no lasting negative impact on protected or endangered species or habitat provided adequate precautions are taken."

Earlier the inquiry heard from Rachel Fryers, a land-scape architect, who was asked if the existing school could be refurbished or rebuilt instead of moving to a new site. But she told the inquiry the existing site was too close to the Burnleywood Conservation Area.

County Council bosses are reluctant to stay at the existing site as a new school would provide better facilities and negate the need for children to be moved.