TWO former parish councillors have failed to overturn a standards committee decision after they were rapped for trying to prevent a barn development near their homes.

David Smith and David Holden, formerly of North Turton Parish Council, were found in February to have failed to declare a personal and prejudicial interest before objecting to a planning application to demolish and re-build a barn in Isherwood Fold, Edgworth.

An independent appeals board, the first of its kind ever in the country, upheld the decision of the standards committee to censure them.

The code of conduct for parish councils states that if members have a personal interest they must disclose it and if it is likely to prejudice their decision they should withdraw from the room.

The panel heard that in a parish council meeting last year both Mr Smith and Mr Holden did not declare an interest in the development before writing to Blackburn with Darwen Council's planning department to object.

Linda Comstive, monitoring officer for the council, said: "We are pleased the panel upheld the decision of the standards committee."

Mr Holden served on the parish council for 21 years but, along with Mr Smith, resigned following the censure.

He said: "I am very disappointed. I believe the code is flawed and is being implemented far too strictly in relation to parish councils."