PLANNING permission is wanted again in Whalley, this time for 300 houses on precious farmland.

Hyndburn MP Graham Jones gave one very good reason to oppose this application: “While the New Homes Bonus is designed to deal with under-supply, it encourages the ‘abandonment’ of long-term empty properties and will hit northern towns like Accrington.” (LT, Decem-ber 30).

So stop the New Homes Bonus scheme which encourages speculators to abandon empty properties in places like Hyndburn, Burnley and Blackburn.

Voters, let it be known that any councillor voting for this build on agricultural land in Whalley or anywhere else will, come the next election, be like a turkey voting for Christmas.

We must preserve our farmland, greenbelt land and resist “open country-side” developments like this.

Bert Hardwick, Station Road, Whalley.