NEW proposals for 167 houses in Barrow village have caused outrage.

The plan by Admiral Taverns for the development at La Taverna on Whalley Road have angered the Barrow Community Action Group and Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans.

MORE TOP STORIES:

The proposal would knock down the empty former King Charles pub and the adjoining house and build there and on the car park.

Planning permission has already been granted for 23 homes and a small industrial development on the site on the main road from Whalley to Clitheroe through the village.

It is the latest planning application for housing in or around the tiny village.

A scheme to build 504 homes by Barrow Lands was recently approved by government inspectors.

Action group spokeswoman Sarah Parry said: “This is just totally unacceptable. It is overdevelopment of our village.

“There are plans approved or in the pipeline to build hundreds of homes in and around Barrow.

“The original 23 were bad enough.

“People here are angry and totally opposed.

“This village just cannot take any more houses.

“It’s Ribble Valley council’s fault for not producing a core strategy which means any development can be appealed and approved by the Government’s planning inspectors.”

Mr Evans said: “This scheme is outrageous.

“Barrow cannot take any more development with another 504 homes just approved by inspectors.

“Ribble Valley cannot accommodate any more houses. It is an appalling proposal.

“I am totally opposed to this scheme on the old King Charles car park and will fight it all the way.”

Mr Evans this summer presented a petition to the House of Commons opposing further housing development in the ‘under siege’ Ribble Valley having raised the issue with Prime Minister David Cameron in March.

Ribble Valley borough planning chairman Terry Hill said: “Officers are assessing the application.

“It is a disgrace the Government have yet to make a decision on our final core strategy submitted on September 7.

“Our officers who have worked hard under great pressure to produce this document which will now have weight in any decision.”

James Sturgess, from Caldecotte Consultants who are dealing with the application for Admiral Taverns, had no comment to make.