AREA councillors could be risking serious flooding by not listening to their constituents, according to a Barnoldswick resident.

Ernest Spencer, of Gisburn Road, claims that his neighbourhood could be submerged because borough councillors aren't representing the needs of people in West Craven.

Mr Spencer says that a development of 54 houses on the former Westfield Mill site behind his home has added to the risks in a flood-prone area, and that councillors have ignored his warnings.

However, Pendle councillors David Whipp and Margaret Bell have strongly denied the allegations, insisting that all the necessary precautions have been taken and that expensive work to replace the drains could not have taken place without money from the residential development.

Mr Spencer says that although some improvement work has been done with contributions from developer Orchard Holdings, who have contributed almost £100,000 towards local amenities, it is not enough.

He believes the process has been dogged by inadequate public consultation.

He also thinks the building work could unleash several thousands of gallons of water held above the area by a series of dams, which used to serve the mill.

He said: "The water was threatening to come over just a few weeks ago when we had a wet spell.

"Last time it flooded in 2002 there was a channel of water two feet deep running along the back alley and one man I know had to pay an insurance excess of £1,500.

"Through all this the area councillors have asked very few questions and not one of them came down here when there was the flooding.

"What they don't want to accept is that there are 10 separate new builds in this area - all of which are going into the same watercourses.

"The councillors want the money from developments, but don't want to know when there's problems"

He added: "We're voting for people to represent us and they are not doing it."

Mr Spencer also believes that the increased intensity of rainfalls and irregular weather in recent years will only increase the problems.

However, Coun David Whipp said that the housing development had made several drainage improvements possible which the council wouldn't have been able to afford on its own.

He said: "I think that what he's saying is very wide of the mark.

"Several surveys have been undertaken and advice taken from expert visits. As a consequence of that, a new culvert costing hundreds of thousands of pounds was installed and if it wasn't for the development, the money wouldn't have been found anywhere else and the flooding risk would be worse."

Coun Bell agreed, adding: "Mr Spencer has got his views and other people, including the experts who have done a number of surveys, have got theirs.

"We have always taken this issue seriously and carried out any recommendations made.

"I am representing people and I do listen to what they have to say, but we can't refuse planning permission for anything without viable grounds."