RESIDENTS in the Chapels area of Darwen, battling to stop a waste transfer station being built near their homes have launched an email and letter campaign.

A letter detailing proposals, as well as a section for people to add their names to protest, has been sent to all nearby residents by businessman Dave Kershaw, of Goose House Lane. It highlights main concerns including increased traffic problems in Goose House Lane and the close proximity of the proposed site to the residential area.

Mr Kershaw plans to hand in the names to the council before December 17.

An exhibition last month explained proposals, which are expected to be submitted by Lancashire County Council later this month and will be followed by an official consultation period.

Mr Kershaw said: "Goose House Lane, the speedy short cut from the motorway, was always going to be a problem from day one. Since the sale of the church in the village most evenings Chapels is so choked up with cars on both sides of the road that it's difficult to walk let alone drive through quickly.

"In a document from Lancashire County Council entitled 'A Greener Strategy for a Greener Future' it says that these sites will be located in 'general industrial areas where they will not have an unacceptable detrimental impact on people' which we do not agree this is."

The waste transfer station will not include a waste incinerator or landfill site.

Peter Hunt, director of direct services at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "This is not the kind of rubbish site you see with seagulls hovering above it, it is a completely managed process with indoor transfer."