MORE than 600 people have vowed to fight a massive housing estate development which, protesters say, would be a disaster for the area.

The angry residents, mainly living in the Farington area of Leyland, want councillors to throw out the plans for the 290-dwelling site in Manor House Farm, Croston Road, in Farington Moss.

A 662-name petition is to be presented to the council at the next meeting of the development services committee.

Almost all the protesters live within metres of the proposed new estate.

An action group has been set up to oppose the plan.

Judith England's views on the site typify those shared by other members of the group, called the Residents Against Losing Fields (RALF).

She said: "What will be left for my three sons and the other residents if this beautiful piece of countryside is built on.

"It would mean the wildlife and habitat will be lost forever and the last piece of countryside between Leyland and Farington destroyed.

"If this development goes ahead it will mean we would lose the amenity of this site which would be replaced with 290 houses.

"We would suffer from traffic problems, pollution, plus pressure on local resources because we don't have a local doctor, dentist, or chemist."

Campaigner Mark Alcock added: "This land is regularly used by local people in both the summer and the winter.

"At the end of the day, it would be nothing short of a disaster."

A spokesman for the council said the matter would be discussed at a future meeting of the development services committee - the borough's planning forum.

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