BOSSES at Lancashire County Council have revealed they are to search for alternative ways of providing a waste treatment site in Rossendale after fierce objections from residents.

A site at Waterbarn, Newchurch Road, Stacksteads, had been identified by county council chiefs as the one they wanted to develop as it met all the necessary planning criteria.

But following consultations with locals and objections from councillors and the Valley's MP Janet Anderson, a decision to put the planning application on hold has been reached.

And residents were also told at the Lancashire Local meeting held at Future's Park, Bacup, that alternative sites would be sought while tenders would be invited for services to be provided at other sites including Huncoat.

Other options which have been looked at and rejected because of access problems include Barlow Bottoms, Shawforth; Duckworth Clough, Haslingden; Top of Slate, Haslingden; Rossendale College, Albert Mill, Haslingden; Cars Industrial site; and New Hall Hey, Rawtenstall.

Resident an Swingewood, of Newchurch Road, said: "Lancashire County Council are doing what they should have done in the first place.

"We are not home and dry yet by any means though.

"We currently have a petition with 500 signatures on it so support for rejecting these plans is growing stronger every day. We will continue our campaign until an alternative solution is found."

David Hancock, a local councillor, added: "There's actually developments we can see happening and that shows that these meetings are working. It's a positive step forward."

A further report is set to be brought back to the next Rossendale Lancashire Local meeting detailing any new options.

The meeting will be held at Haslingden Community Link on Thursday, January 20 at 6.30pm.