A NEWLY formed residents' association is drawing up battle plans to fight proposals for a children's home.

Protesters claim the change of use of New Barn Farm, on the boundary of Shawforth and Britannia, for six children aged nine to 13 is inappropriate.

They also say it would lead to more traffic on an already difficult access route which is regularly blocked in winter.

They have already enlisted the help of Elvis impersonator Neville Sparks who will be singing to raise money for the campaign at the Traveller's Rest on May 20.

Neighbouring farmer Geoff Watkins, co-chairman of the residents' association, said: "We have sent quite a number of letters of objection and a petition containing about 600 signatures.

"We understand the children will have severe behavioural problems and will have already gone through the system and could not be placed in local authority homes because they are either too disruptive or two violent."

Residents are objecting because: access is difficult; there is an open mine entrance leading to a private water supply; the water supply cannot be used legally for a commercial enterprise; there are no facilities. The applicant, Keys Attachment Centre, based in Rawtenstall, already runs two other homes in the Valley for children and a further one in Cheshire for children with difficulties.

Three children and two staff have moved into the property because permission allows for up to three children to be at the farm without change of use.

Managing director Barbara Fleetwood said the home would be run just like a family home.

If access was difficult, staff on duty would remain until they could be relieved, and she had been assured the water supply had never run out before.

She said: "I am not creating a great big children's home for a lot of children.

"The change of use is only for five or six with two or three adults - no larger than a large family home.

"The children don't make relationships very well and have been traumatised in some way and we have developed a way of dealing with them that addresses these issues and helps them to change their behaviour."

Whitworth Town Council in a consultative role has objected to the application and Rossendale planners are expected to make a decision next month.

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