FEARS over methane gas and arsenic have led to controversial plans for 34 houses being put on hold.

About 30 residents attended Burnley Council's planning committee to object and present a petition against the scheme, at Lowerhouse Fold, Burnley. They heard council officers express concern about the land.

Objectors say the development would worsen an already congested and dangerous traffic situation and lead to loss of space in an area where there are already too many houses.

Planning officer Paul Skinner said the land was allocated for housing on the Local Plan and that the additional traffic would not be significant in highway terms. Environmental health officer Martin Hodgson raised concerns when he said soil samples had been taken away to test for arsenic.

"I think we need to get to the bottom of that and to clear things up,'' he said. He also expressed concern about the future maintenance of a trench to be created to prevent methane gas leaking from sediment at Lowerhouse lodge.

Coun Gordon Birtwistle said destruction of the Lowerhouse area was taking place with gay abandon and that soon the only green spot would be Lowerhouse Cricket Club, "and that will be used for housing if they stop playing cricket.''

He said if there was any suggestion of methane gas under the site then development should be stopped.

Coun Jack Alston said the proposed lay-out of the site was not in accordance with the development brief and the proposed access was diabolical. He said: "The total plan is wrong and there is no way I can agree to it.''

The committee agreed to defer a decision until a plan is produced which fits in with the development brief for the site.

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