MORE than 200 people met to rally against plans for a cemetery – the details of which have not yet been officially published.

People from Oswaldtwistle, West End, Stanhill and other areas of Hyndburn met on Sunday to discuss their views on the proposed development which the Lancashire Telegraph revealed last week.

Plans have been submitted by Blackburn's billionaire Issa brothers for the cemetery on land between Blackburn and Oswaldtwistle, however they are not yet available to view on the Hyndburn Council planning portal.

If approved, the plans will see a cemetery built on the land off Blackburn Road near West End Business Park on the outskirts of Oswaldtwistle.

Read more: Blackburn's Issa brothers to submit plans for cemetery

The size of the development is said to be around 90 acres.

The meeting was attended by about 250 people, with more people who wanted to attend but were unable to get in.

The meeting did not discuss people’s opinions and opposition to the plans but instead went through details of how the residents can organise to come together against the proposals and inform them of how planning applications work.

They also organised to put forward about 12 people to head up the action group and speak on behalf of the residents, acting as communication between them and the council.

A number of councillors attended the meeting, with some talking about the proposed plans.

Councillor Marlene Haworth, for the Conservative party, explained how the planning system works, telling attendees how they can oppose plans if they wish to do so.

One resident, who wished not to be named, said: “We are concerned about a number of things.

“The roads are already congested enough in the morning and this is going to make that even worse.

“People use the land for dog walking and there is also wildlife living on the green land which we want to protect.

“A lottery fund has also been spent on the land which has seen beautiful walking trail and information boards installed and it would be a real shame for this to go to waste.

“Residents have lived here for years and enjoyed the views and the greenspace from their back gardens and it will be a real shame to lose this.”

A Change.org petition has also been set up which has seen more than 2,000 signatures opposing the plans.