A NATIONAL countryside protection group has backed residents' fears over a proposed waste treatment centre in their village.

The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE), today claimed there had not been enough consultation into Lancashire county council's plans for the former Huncoat power station site.

And it said it was concerned about whether enough tests had been done to measure the level of pollution on the site, and the possible effects on wildlife.

The treatment centre, one of a number to be built across the county by 2010, would take in rubbish from across East Lancashire.

A public meeting has been organised and residents have promised to fight the plans.

The county council has said that Huncoat is one of a number of possible sites, and studies into environmental impacts have been carried out.

But Peter Mallon, branch development officer for the CPRE's Lancashire branch, said: "The development really hasn't been subject to any kind of official scrutiny at all. Lancashire County Council seem very determined to push ahead with it and seem to have the support of Hyndburn Council.

"But it seems not to have been given the attention it deserves. There is also the question of whether there is any protected species on the site that shouldn't be disturbed. There are certain studies that should be done and it's doubtful whether any or all of them have even commenced."

The CPRE say the site will be about the size of two rugby pitches, and more than twice the height of an average house. They claim a truck would enter Huncoat every two minutes.

Today Sheila Parkinson, vice-chair of the Huncoat Neighbourhood Project, said: "There are quite a lot of people very angry about it. We have got Whinney Hill already, and now we're getting another." A county council spokesman said: "The proposals are open to public scrutiny. We have started setting up our own information meetings and the planning process is also an opportunity for people to put their views across. We are letting people know as much as we can, and we are telling them everything they need to know. They do have their say."

But Mr Mallon said a decision could not be made on the site until the proper tests and studies on the land have been done.

The public meeting takes place at the Methodist church hall on Monday from 7.45pm.