WORRIED Bacup residents have announced they are to fight plans to build a new housing estate.

Rossendale Borough Council have received an outline application from Lancaster-based company Barnfield Peregrine to create 90 houses of various size and design on land off Rockcliffe Road, Bacup.

People living in Lord Street and Grafton Villas, near Rockcliffe Road, now claim the small roads are used as a rat run for people taking short cuts - creating danger for local children.

In 1990 a development company built a first phase of bungalows which residents said created 'hell' for people living in the area.

They claim the second phase would only add to the problems.

Resident Alan Johnson said: "Residents went through hell because of the noise dust and vibration from the construction traffic climbing the steep, narrow street to gain access to the site.

"Residents in Bold Street complained that this heavy traffic had caused some slight movement of the walls of their houses causing cracks to appear.

"Part of the site is acknowledged by the applicant to be Greenfield.

"It is also a site much used by local residents exercising their dogs and one which gives fine views of the exceptional architecture of St Saviours Church.

"In short, this is an area which should remain undeveloped, as it is considered to be a public amenity."

Janet Ruffley, a planning officer at the council, said the same application was received last year but withdrawn by the company in November after environmental studies found the site contained various species of wildlife.

The application will be dealt with by next meeting of the Development Control committee.