VILLAGERS who failed to halt a major house building project in Weir have vowed to keep an eagle eye on developers.

Cheshire-based Wordsworth Corporation appealed against Rossendale Council's refusal of permission to build 44 houses on the site of the former Irwell Springs site off Heald Lane last year.

The refusal was overturned after a public inquiry -- despite a fierce opposition campaign.

However, campaigners said although they may have lost the battle they will carry on fighting to ensure the development is carried out properly.

The public inquiry imposed several conditions on the development, which residents say they must make sure are enforced.

These include: agreement on a written scheme for the improvement of the existing reservoir; a project for the diversion of the River Irwell; investigations carried out into contamination; a plan to upgrade bus stops on Burnley Road and a scheme for overseeing any archaeological artefacts found on the site.

Work began last month and John Glendinning, chairman of the Weir Lodges and Woodlands Trust, a group set up to fight the development, said: "There's nothing we can do now to stop the development but we must ensure that we put all the pressure we can on the developers and on the borough council to make sure all conditions are fulfilled.

"If we must have the development at least we can make sure it is carried out in the best way possible."

At the inquiry, the Wordsworth Corporation pointed out that it could build anyway because it had planning approval since 1990.

Rossendale Council had turned the application down on the grounds it was not sustainable and the density of houses was less than national guidelines recommended.