Decision deferred on 269 houses plan

At a meeting last week, a decision was due to be made on the hugely controversial outline application, with it being recommended for approval

The plans, which include office space, a coffee shop and a convenience store in the village of Nateby, have already been rejected by Wyre Council on the grounds of road safety.

And now the decision has been deferred.

A council spokesman said: “The decision was deferred by the planning committee.

“It will go back before them when Lancashire County Council, as the local Highways Authority, has clarified their position on the application or when all the major housing applications currently pending consideration along the A6 corridor are ready to be considered together.”

The decision has been music to the ears of Nateby Fields Residents’ Group which, before the meeting, had threatened the council with a judicial review.

It had hoped the action would halt the hearing, but backed down just days before.

Peter Horrobin, of the residents’ group, said the decision was something of a “small victory” for the protestors.

“The big issues concerning local councils and local people are highway safety, with so many extra vehicles adding pressure on the A6 junctions, and the very real threat the so-called “New Town” would be on the retailers and service providers of Garstang Old Town.

“We felt we had a good case to make but we shall have to wait patiently and be ready to fight another day.”

It has not been decided when the application will be discussed by Wyre Council’s planning committee.