THE mother of a Pendle teenager left paralysed after falling 20ft off a bridge has won her battle to extend her house to meet her daughter’s needs.

Chloe Holgate, 17, of Newchurch-in-Pendle, suffered spinal injuries and became paralysed from the chest down after she fell backwards off a bridge in Higherford in September 2007.

She has lost all mobility from her chest down, is now only able to move her arms, shoulders and thumbs and requires a specialised electric wheelchair.

Chloe’s mother Liz Simpson was given permission to extend the property in the designated Conservation Area, on Newchurch Village, by Barrowford and Western Parishes Committee on Thursday.

She will now be able to build an extension including ground floor bedroom with disabled access shower room The decision to approve the application represents a victory for the family as there were objections to the single-storey extension from members of the public and Goldshaw Booth Parish Council.

The parish council argued the ‘excessively large development with no windows’ would ‘upset the aesthetic of the area’ and ruin views into the village.

It added that the development would reduce the amount of parking in the village, which it believes is already limited.

Three letters of objection from members of the public also raised concers over contribution to parking problems in the village and the future use of the development if the family move on.

Mrs Simpson, who had considered selling the house and moving away from the village, was relieved at the result.

She said: “It’s absolutely fantastic after waiting for so long. We just have to wait for the paperwork to be done and then the work can begin.

“We need to stay round here because of all the people in the village who help us out.”

The committee said that the appearance of the Conservation Area would be preserved because the development proposes to use natural stone along with natural blue slate to the roof, which are consistent materials with those used on surrounding buildings.

Mrs Simpson slammed the criticisms aimed at the development.

She said: “I was so annoyed about the objections because I thought I had the support of all the village but it was just the parish council that didn’t want it.

“I was especially annoyed at the comments about car-parking because the work is to help someone have a normal life. I’m just glad the decision has been passed.”