MEMBERS of Rossendale Civic Trust have opposed plans to develop the former Lea Bank School site.

Plans have been drawn up by developers for the Rawtenstall site after campaigners battled to protect the site for years before permission was granted to Hurstwood Developments in 2001 for housing.

Amended plans were submitted to Rossendale Council to turn the site into apartments, as well as refurbishing the existing building to turn it into executive homes, with the creation of a woodland visitor centre.

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

The discussions, which began in July last year, included a promise by Hurstwood Developments to donate the area of woodland to the new Lea Bank Charitable Trust.

Kathy Fishwick, of Rossendale Civic Trust, said members were concerned about the new application.

She said: "This new application incorporates too many of the features that people objected to in the summer of 2001.

"Four new built houses plus quite a lot of hard surfaced car parking is unacceptable in green land.

"The plans are in conflict with the Rossendale District Plan and go against the advice of Rossendale Borough Council.

"I'd like to see the original application approved if it would allow the Lea Bank group to work on the woodland in conjunction with the plan."