A group of residents who want to voice their concerns and ideas about planning matters before the council, have set up their own forum.

The Bacup and Stacksteads Neighbourhood (planning) Forum is aiming to create their own program for development, independent of Rossendale Borough Council, so that residents are better informed to have more of a say in what happens in their area.

A meeting is being held on Tuesday evening, to engage with the community and the Forum's stakeholders as part of the group's first stage for developing a Neighbourhood Plan for the Bacup and Stacksteads area.

This development plan will consider housing developments, employment, leisure and tourism areas, and will reflect the community’s needs and desires for such things, while remaining independent of the borough council.

A spokesperson for the Forum said: "The upcoming meeting is a major stepping stone in our evolution, and we would like to encourage as many people as possible to be there.

"We are here to champion the ordinary residents’ concerns and ideas about planning matters, especially so in the light of the Local Development Plan that is going to have such a significant effect upon the lives of us all.

"We are mandated to produce our own contributions to the development plan for the Bacup and Stacksteads area."

Rossendale Mill. The Bacup and Stacksteads Neighbourhood Forum is aiming to give residents a chance to have a say on what happens in their area

Rossendale Mill. The Bacup and Stacksteads Neighbourhood Forum is aiming to give residents a chance to have a say on what happens in their area

The group believes that because of the opacity and complexity of the planning process, too often the first they know about new developments is when the JCB’s turn up and start ripping out trees and digging up greenfield sites, for new housing estates, rubbish recycling yards or industrial units.

However, people in Bacup and Stacksteads are now planning to inform their community about such things early on, so they can have a strong and unified voice, resulting in their opinions and plans fully aired and presented to the council.

The spokesperson said: "Everyone who lives here in the Valley knows and experiences increasing problems due to the poor road infrastructure, traffic and public transport problems.

"People have difficulties in getting GP appointments, the nearest hospital with an A&E unit being too far away and potential school place shortages on the horizon.

"All of these major issues need resident focused attention in local planning and not just council planners deciding what is best for us all.

"It is time for a change and a new vision about how these issues can be addressed more effectively.

"We have volunteer management group members of Bacup and Stacksteads Neighbourhood Forum available for interview if required."

The upcoming virtual meeting of the newly formed group will be held via Zoom on Tuesday from 6.30-8.30pm.

More information about Bacup and Stacksteads Neighbourhood planning forum can be found at www.bsnf.org.uk.

To join the meeting on Tuesday, follow this link: www.bsnf.org.uk/meet.