HUNCOAT residents have slammed their local council, claiming it is intent on stripping the village of vital green space and turning residential areas into urban housing and industrial estates.

The Friends of Huncoat Action Group says Hyndburn Council is ignoring people's wishes to retain green land and countryside, and is instead simply toe-ing the line with the Local Plan - now in its final stages of preparation.

The plan, which is a blueprint for development in the area, has been the subject of a public inquiry and several consultations.

It states that 22 hectares of land, which include the former Huncoat Power Station and nearby fields, is designated for employment.

Another 26 hectares will be dedicated to housing development and an open space.

But despite reassurances that space for a local school and community facilities has been accounted for, the Friends of Huncoat remain unconvinced.

Spokesman Ian McCann said: "The council is completely ignoring the implications of taking away green land. Who will want to buy all the new houses if there's no recreation area and no scenery?

"And the employment land is taking up more than the old power station did, even though National Power have agreed to demolish it to make way for more development."

National Power surveyor John Dobson confirmed that the electricity company would be demolishing the old power station.

He said: "The power station closed in the early 80s when the former Centre Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) owned it.

"We are a private generating company which derived from the CEGB and as the site's derelict structures are considered to be unsightly and a safety hazard, we will be accepting responsibility for its demolition."

And Hyndburn Council's principal planning officer Paul Worswick denied the council was taking away Huncoat's infrastructure and said the authority always sought public opinion.

He said: "We are hoping to retain the two football pitches where they are, and develop the housing around them. We are also designating some land to a community centre and a primary school.

"We have worked from the government inspector's recommendations and always asked the public for their opinions," he said.

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