VILLAGERS have expressed their anger after being ignored by a public consultation into plans for one of East Lancashire’s largest ever job creation schemes.

An exhibition was staged last week by Eshton Property Development for the new Burnley Bridge Business Park, on the former Hepworth’s site at Hapton.

Boasting a combination of industrial, warehousing and office ventures, when it is completed it should result in more than 1,600 new jobs.

But Hapton parish councillors were left in the dark about the event - even though the proposals will have a major impact on the village.

Neighbouring Padiham Town Council was invited to the forum, staged at Greenbrook Methodist Church, in Lowerhouse, Burnley.

Parish councillor Chris Puckett-Goldin said: “We were not even told about this exhibition and we are Hapton Parish Council.”

Last month parish councillors attended a meeting of the Lancashire Local Burnley committee, to raise questions about the Pollard Moor site.

Coun Puckett-Goldin, who was present along with her husband Robert, questioned how effective access arrangements were going to be for the Hepworth’s site.

Plans have been drawn up for a study into how a new bridge can be constructed over the Leeds Liverpool Canal, giving direct access from junction nine of the M65.

But currently this would only provide a route for traffic from the Blackburn and Preston direction, as there is no complementary slip-road for Pendle and Yorkshire vehicles travelling in the opposite direction.

Coun Puckett-Goldin added: “We do not want to be killjoys and we want to see this land developed. Blythe’s and Hepworth’s employed a lot of people in Hapton, Padiham and Burnley once.

“We had the mills and the coal mine but these were major employers. But Manchester Road will not sustain any more traffic.”

David Singleton, director of Eshton Property Development said: “We would value the views of Hapton Parish Council on the proposed development and have provided them with information and been in discussions about meeting to discuss this further.

“The consultation is still ongoing and we are keen to hear the community’s views on the proposed development. We believe the development would significantly benefit the area by providing a new bridge link to the M65, removing site traffic from local roads and creating around 1,600 jobs in the area.”