COUNCILLORS have backed residents and thrown out a housing plan for an already heavily-developed village.

Eight residents from Weir sat with Rossendale engineering and planning committee to hear the outline plan for 42 homes at Irwell Springs discussed.

The scheme had earlier been deferred by committee for the applicant to review his plans for the three lodges on site and to find a new access.

But at the committee Coun Terry Bolton said: "Reading the reapplication I can't see any alteration in principal to either of the two submissions.

"The applicant is still on about filling the third lodge and partially filling one and two. As regards access I can't see any alterations and the provision of speed bumps doesn't address the problem as I see it at all."

The former mill was demolished some time ago and the site is classed as brownfield and designated in district local plan for housing.

Concerns were raised that if permission was granted Cheshire-based Wordsworth Corporation might come back with detailed plans and increase the density of houses.

Coun Dave Hancock recounted his first trip to the site when he was nearly involved in an accident trying to negotiate the junction of Heald Lane with Burnley Road. He said: "That situation is the same as it was." Coun Graham Pearson said: "When is a brownfield not a brownfield? It is the site of the former Irwell Springs Mill which clearly makes it a brownfield but how overgrown does it have to become before it becomes a greenfield?"

Postman Coun Jimmy Eaton said he had delivered to that area for 20 years during which time he had seen the number of properties and traffic in the village increase.

He said: "I can't see a reason to touch the lodges. They are very well used by the local community. I am concerned about the loss of trees which have been there possibly 50 to 100 years but the application talks of taking them down."

Councillors unanimously agreed to refuse the application because the proposed development was an "inefficient use of the land."

Although councillors do not want more houses on the site they used Government advice urging more density in developments as a reason for turning down the plan. They also said it failed to meet guidelines on transport.

They also advised the site's classification be looked at under the current review of the district local plan.

Chairman of Weir Lodges and Wildlife Trust John Glendinning said: "We are extremely pleased this application has been rejected by the committee.

"The whole village has been involved in this campaign and it is clear now that we must work hard with the local authority and other partners to establish means of local ownership of the site and surrounding wetland."

Planning director for the Wordsworth Corporation Jeremy Johnson said he was surprised the council had gone against officers' recommendation to approve.

His company would decide where to go with the application once notification was received.