CAMPAIGNERS say they're shocked that their call for an inquiry into a planning decision has been thrown out by government.

Jubilee Action Group (JAG) and Waters Reach Residents' Association wrote to the Government Office of the North West in September, criticising the way in which Wyre Borough Council had passed plans for a leisure development next to the seafront Jubilee Gardens, Cleveleys.

But the government office refused to launch an inquiry. Rob Fail, JAG spokesman, said the council's planning committee had 'shown disregard for the electorate', adding: "It now appears to be in a position to bury our last piece of space under concrete."

He said: "Our only consolation is the fact that the public, by their own considerable and united efforts, did manage to stop this council from also disposing of our long established park, Jubilee Gardens. However, we are now left to wonder how long this will continue to exist when this council now realises how easy it is for them to ignore government legislation."

The group pressed the government office for 'a comprehensive and impartial inquiry' because Wyre's planning committee 'could potentially have swayed' the prom development decision by debating alleged anonymous threats to a councillor by a protester, rather than sticking to discussion of the application.

Mr Fail told them: "Of course, JAG condemns this sort of behaviour but refutes any inference that our members were in any way involved. As such we believe that the planning committee did not follow the laid down procedures."

But the decision , which 'astonished and disappointed' JAG members, vindicated Wyre's planning committee.

Cllr Peter Hawley, the council's portfolio holder for the physical environment, said recently: "I am very pleased that the government office have decided to deal with this matter with such urgency.

"Although not the answer that some people were hoping for I think it is a very good result for Wyre Borough and for the rest of the residents of Cleveleys who are in favour of this development.

"I am quite confident that the development when it is finished will be very beneficial and pleasing for the residents of Cleveleys."

The original plans, destroying part of Jubilee Gardens, were shelved, much to campaigners' relief. But the replacement plans given the go-ahead include buildings sited near to residents' gardens, prompting fears of noise, litter, traffic and anti-social behaviour.

Mr Fail said the government office had provided no real reason for refusing an inquiry and that concerns raised by the groups had not been addressed.

He added: "Their claim that 'the Secretary of State is satisfied that the issues raised do not relate to matters of more than local importance' is in our opinion a complete and utter dereliction of duty."

: "We are astonished and extremely disappointed that the GONW has refused to call-in the planning application for land to the south of Jubilee Gardens, Cleveleys, for inspection by the Secretary Of State.

"They provided no real reason for the refusal and the issues Jubilee Action Group and Waters Reach Residents' Association raised in a letter to them have neither been addressed nor acted on. Their claim that 'the Secretary of State is satisfied that the issues raised do not relate to matters of more than local importance' is in our opinion a complete and utter dereliction of duty."