PLANS for a £400,000 development at the former Lea Bank School have moved a step closer after talks between opposing groups.

A meeting between Rossendale Civic Trust and the Lea Bank Group took place on Friday.

They have agreed to leave the decision in the hands of planners, despite still having differing views on the proposals.

Plans for apartments, executive homes and a woodland visitor centre have been put forward by Rawtenstall-based developers the Hurstwood Group.

Campaigners battled to protect the site throughout the summer of 2001 to protect the site from development.

Despite their past differences, the Lea Bank Group and Hurstwood held talks and decided to work together on the design of the site.

The Rossendale Civic Trust have said the amended plans, which include building four new houses, were against the district plan and the advice of the borough council.

In the plans, all the existing buildings are being retained and refurbished, in addition, the woodland will be looked after.

Stuart McCloskey, Chairman of the Lea Bank Group, said if planners give the development the go-ahead at the development control meeting on July 22 work could start in autumn.

He said: "Work could start to renew the fencing and clear the pathway as soon as September.

"We want the public to get involved and help with the clearing of the woodland."

Kathy Fishwick, of Rossendale Civic Society, said: "We are not trying to oppose the saving of the woodland we are 100 per cent behind that but in relation to the four houses, that's where we agreed to say that's in the hands of planners.

"In December 2001 the council, both officers and elected members commented favourably on a proposal to restore the house but that proposal did not include any new building whatsoever.

"That application was made by the same developer and that same developer has not taken that approval up.

"Now they have come back with a plan which is in breech of the district plan and that's the stumbling block.

"The application in December 2001 would have been the perfect base on which to have built later negotiations. It wasn't right there were lots of faults but we could have built on that. We are not standing in the way, we just want everything to go through smoothly."