PLANS to build a holiday village on the hills above Nelson has been approved by councillors.

The former Catlow Quarries in Southfield Lane will be transformed into a holiday village with 25 chalets, an administration building and a car park after councillors approved the planning permission this week.

The 3.9 hectare site on the West side of Southfield Lane has become a notorious fly tipping spot and councillors believe that building the holiday village will help stop the problem.

Letters of support in favour of the application had also been submitted to the council from members of the public saying that the project would stop the site being used for motocross and that it would help boost tourism in the area.

The chalets will be a single storey and made of timber and a recreational pond is to be formed and tree planting is going to be undertaken along the edge of the site.

Speaking at the Nelson Committee meeting Sonia Robinson said: "I've been looking forward to hearing this planning application for a while.

"I think that the project will bring tourism into Pendle, and anything that does that I am in favour of.

"There are also smashing views of the lovely countryside from Southfield Lane, and I can only think that this will improve the area and be a jewel for Pendle.

"The plans for the site are also eco-friendly and will be sustainable.

"I am very much favour of the planning application.

Coun Nadeem Ahmed said: "The site is notorious for being a fly-tipping site, plans for the holiday village will stop this problem and will improve the area."

But councillor Brian Parker claimed that the holiday village would increase congestion and open the way for houses to be built on the land.

He said:" The traffic problems on the road are appalling already.

"Southfield Lane is a rat run which people use to avoid the congestion of North Valley Road In Colne.

"The holiday village will increase traffic and make the problem worse.

"The land is greenbelt and I would like to see it kept that way.

"Building chalets will only open the door for more housing to be built on the land."