A SCHEME to build 120 new houses on land near Fishmoor Reservoir have been given the green light by planning chiefs despite safety fears from local people.

The estate planned by Miller Homes North West is to be built on land at Haslingden Road in Blackburn, near Queens Park Hospital.

But local residents have contacted the council objecting to the scheme fearing the plans did not include sufficient safety measures to prevent children being tempted to play in the reservoir and risking injury or death. Others wrote to Blackburn with Darwen council saying the development on land owned by North West Water would ruin the village of Guide which they say has been "swallowed up" by the motorway and nearby industrial sites. Coun Peter Greenwood called on planning committee councillors to order Miller Homes to provide safety equipment near the reservoir to reduce the risks.

He said: "The owner should be asked for life-saving equipment given that this development will change the whole scenario of the area. I know they are vandalised a great deal but they are not a great expense."

Councillors were told by the council solicitor they would be unlikely to impose such a condition on the planning permission.

However, he added that the land's owners, North West Water, "will have to reassess the reservoir" for safety as it will be close to residential development. He said: "It would subsequently be a matter for the courts if they did nothing."

A spokeswoman for North West Water said afterwards: "Clearly we do take our responsibilities as regards health and safety very seriously. We will be reviewing signs around the site and safety measures to make sure they are adequate."

She also said the company carried out a campaign called Simsafe in schools warning children about the dangers of open water.

Coun Andy Kay said: "To my knowledge there have not been any reported incidents there apart from one some years back."

He added: "There are occasions when it's the responsibility of the community and parents to mind their children. We have got to look at this from the practical side of life"

Coun Paul Browne, leader of the local Lib Dems, said he had opposed the development from the start and warned it would also lead to increased congestion in the area. He said: "In four of five years time whoever is on this council will say this was the wrong to allow this and the biggest problem will be traffic."