RESIDENTS celebrated after plans to build more than 60 homes at the edge of Barnoldswick were rejected.

Despite 30 objections by Barnoldswick residents, a proposal to build 63 homes on a field north of Meadow Way, near Skipton Road, was set to go ahead.

Officers at Pendle Council had recommended approval, prior to a public meeting held at Nelson Town Hall, on the grounds the development would not ‘adversely’ impact on amenity of the town, the listed buildings or open countryside.

However elected members voted down the recommendation of council officers at a policy and resources meeting after 14 members of the public spoke against the application in the Market Square chamber.

Linda Preston, who has lived opposite the development at Lock House, on Greenberfield Lane, for ten years, said: “It beggars belief it has been recommended for approval. (The development) affects heritage assets and shouldn’t be traded off by councillors.”

Jane Mills, chairman of Barnoldswick Town Council, said: “This area is a special place and the development would dominate the skyline.”

Barnoldswick resident Sam Wellington said his family home was ‘threatened’ by the proposed development while another resident, Nigel Harris, described the area as the town’s ‘jewel in the crown’.

The developer did not attend the meeting and instead a representative was sent to speak on his behalf. The spokesman said the development received no objections from the highways authority or highways drainage and reminded the committee the plans had been recommended for approval by council officers.

Cllr Mike Goulthorp described the field as a ‘vital asset to Pendle’, which sits next to the ‘internationally renowned’ Leeds and Liverpool Canal. He said: “It will be a blot on the landscape.”

Cllr David Whipp said: “In my view the application would trash our landscape and heritage.”

Cllr Mohammed Iqbal, who previously said he would stand ‘shoulder to shoulder’ with residents against the development, voted against the application and said: “If the developer wants to go to appeal. Let him do so.”

Council leader Paul White said: “We’ll build affordable and quality houses in Pendle, but we want to encourage them to be built in the right areas for our towns and ensure that local services aren’t overburdened by new developments.”

The application was unanimously rejected on the grounds it would have a negative impact on the setting of listed buildings and impact on the landscape.

The crowd cheered and applauded the decision.