RESIDENTS have called on a council to protect the countryside around their village.

A public meeting will take place in Huncoat tomorrow as villagers fight plans for a new industrial park.

Residents are already upset with plans to build a massive new waste recycling centre on the site of a former power station in the village.

Now a planning application, which is yet to be considered by Hyndburn's planning panel, has been submitted by Revelan Estates of Wigston, Leicestershire, for an industrial site to be built off Lower Gate Road and Altham Lane.

The area is adjacent to the waste treatment plant site and could feature 12 industrial units.

Residents have called for the area, which is not classed as green belt land but is made up of several fields, to be left as open countryside for their families to enjoy.

Members of the Huncoat Voice group and the local Campaign for Rural England have written to Hyndburn Council calling for industrial development to stop in the village.

Leaflets have been distributed in the area and the meeting will take place at the Methodist Church in Station Road at 7pm.

The waste treatment plant, which will be built for Lancashire County Council in the next five years, will be fed by an access road that cuts through the village's green belt.

Louise Burton, who is leading the residents' campaign, said: "Residents have asked for the meeting because no-one knows what's going on.

"Huncoat councillors will be attending and we are hoping that someone from Hyndburn Council will come along to allay the fears people have.

"Huncoat has lost a large chunk of its green belt with the waste plant and we want to make sure that the land around our village is protected."

Coun Paul Gott said: "I will be going along to the meeting to oppose to the development. It is another plan for the green land around our village and is wrong for this area."

The site off Altham Road has been earmarked as suitable for development by the council in its local plan.

Mrs Burton said she was also encouraging residents to write to the council to make their feelings known.

Simon Prideaux, from Hyndburn's planning department, said: "There is always the opportunity for groups to comment on any of the proposals being put forward by the council."