NOT long ago, I stated in a local newspaper that permission granted to build just one new house in the other part of the quaint village of Irwell Vale would be the start of many to follow.

Now, lo and behold, a planning application has been approved to build a further dwelling at the site of the old tennis court beside the little village chapel.

Rossendale Council's planning committee could apparently see no reason to refuse building consent. In all honesty, I think anyone attempting to build a house virtually beside a place of worship deserves to be struck down from the heavens.

Furthermore, the view of the countryside from the homes of residents in Lower Milne Street will never be the same after this house is built.

It seems throughout the country that what remains of England's green and pleasant land is sadly, slowly but surely, turning into a concrete jungle.

DAVID McDOWALL, Milne Street, Irwell Vale.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.