RESIDENTS are to fight plans for 230 new houses in the Lowerhouse area of Burnley.

Lowerhouse Residents' Association chairman Roy Dewhirst said people were "really annoyed" about the Chorley-based Banks Group's plans to build the homes and a new Cricket clubhouse and fitness suite on an 18.5-acre house site off Liverpool Road.

The outline planning application submitted by the Banks Group also includes a new clubhouse for Lowerhouse Cricket Club with facilities such as a creche, fitness suite and an area for meetings.

The company has pledged to renovate the Liverpool Road section of the Leeds/Liverpool canal as part of the scheme.

The land is owned by George Dickenson, Nightfreight (GB) Ltd and the Dugdale Trust.

If the application goes ahead Nightfreight, which operates a 24-hour haulage business on the west side of the site, would relocate.

At a public meeting about the plans, held in Lowerhouse Working Men's Club last December, a third of the 52 who attended were in favour of their proposals.

But Mr Dewhirst said: "Feeling about this is bad. We had a meeting about this two months ago. A lot of people turned up and were really annoyed about it.

"They are taking part of the cricket club and building where the car park was. Anybody going to the cricket club in the future or the fitness centre will have to park on Lowerhouse Lane. We've already been fighting for traffic-calming measures on there.

"I believe cricket club members are for it because they are getting a new clubhouse. But we are going to be living in the middle of one of the biggest estates in Burnley if this goes through and we intend to fight it."

The residents' association is to arrange a public meeting about the plans over the next two to three weeks.

But ward councillor Eddie Fisk will not be joining the opposition.

He said: "The problem is it's privately-owned land already down for industry. I would like to keep it a grass field because we are losing too much greenery in the area.

"But this would be the lesser of two evils. If is goes to industry we could have big factories there. If they are helping the cricket club that will be of value to the area and if they get rid of the haulage company that would be a big improvement to the area."

David Wren, chairman of Lowerhouse Cricket Club, said a 50-year lease for the ground from the Dugdale Trust ran out in April 2000 and the club was fighting to have it renewed.

Banks Group were unavailable for comment.