‘Say no to housing plan’

The proposed development at Riversleigh Farm, off Lytham Road, Warton, has been recommended for approval by planning chiefs, despite concerns from villagers about a lack of infrastructure to cope with the new influx of residents.

A decision is set to be made on Wednesday by Fylde Council’s development management committee, having been deferred from a previous meeting to allow members to make a site visit.

Recently councillors have gone against officers’ recommendations in turning down applications for new homes in Wesham and Staining.

Mike Wright, from campaign group Warton Residents Against Poor Planning, has called on members to do the same again in this instance.

He said: “The officers are still recommending approval, subject to a site visit, which we hope will show that the site isn’t suitable in terms of highways and building on countryside.

“They’ve rejected applications under similar circumstances before.

“We’re hoping they’re going to be consistent and apply the same rules to this one.

“We’re worried if this goes ahead there will be a domino effect.”

In a statement to the committee, Warton Parish Council has also added its objections, noting: “The strength of feeling against development in Warton and the haste with which this application appears before committee is viewed by many residents in an extremely poor light.”

However a summary of the report made by Fylde Council’s senior planning officer, Mike Atherton, states: “The proposal has an appropriate access, delivers the necessary element of affordable housing and open space and has been revised to improve its layout and connectivity with potential adjoining sites.

“Warton has a reasonable level of services and this site is well located to them.

“As such the officer opinion is that the proposal does deliver sustainable development and that there are no significant over-riding negative impacts from the development that should prevent it being recommended for approval subject to the completion of a section 106 agreement.”

The meeting will take place at Lowther Pavilion, Lytham, from 10am.

Despite repeated calls, no one from developer GL Hearn was available for comment.