WARD councillors are to lobby for a ‘land swap’ to protect Huncoat’s ‘green lung’ and playing fields for the next 15 years.

Huncoat ward councillor Paul Gott said derelict land in the area had been wrongly classed as green belt while Huncoat’s open spaces were in danger of being used for housing development.

Following an extraordinary public meeting of Huncoat Area Management Council, Coun Gott said dozens of residents had appealed to him to fix “mistakes” made in the last local plan 13 years ago.

Both he and Hyndburn environmental charity Prospects are appealing for the protection of open space and playing fields at Spout House Woodland to be prot-ected, as they have never been developed. Coun Gott wants Hynd-burn Council planners to arrange a ‘swap’ so derelict land at Old Pit Top next to the M65, currently marked as greenbelt, is classed as suitable for housing development instead.

He said: “We have seen quite a few mistakes made with the local plan, such as the new waste transfer station in a location where housing would have been much better than industrial land.These are all problems that have come about as a result of the plan made years ago.

“The land at Spothouse Lane is virgin land which has never been developed. There are playing fields, it’s popular with dog walk-ers and ramblers, cattle still use it – it’s Huncoat’s green lung.

“It’s crazy that it should be earmarked for housing when former industrial land at Old Pit Top is an eyesore, but protected as greenbelt.

“The meeting was really well attended with everyone singing off the same hymn sheet. Residents just want logic and common sense to prevail and to keep Huncoat’s semi rural identity.”

Vice Chairman of Huncoat’s Prospects panel, Roy Chetham, who represents the local environmental charity, said: “There has been a growing feeling that Spout House fields should be protected.

"It is very pleasant countryside and we are in complete agreement with Coun Gott.”