ANGRY Earby residents have hit out at a proposed housing development they say would create traffic chaos, increase the risk of flooding and threaten villlage life.

More than 100 people packed into the town's Albion Hall to voice their concerns about plans to build 50 homes on land in Bawhead Road

The land, known as Springfield, is owned by Pendle Council and has being earmarked for housing for many years as part of the authority's local plan.

Now the council wants to apply for outline planning permission to build 50 homes on the land with access from Bailey Street.

The West Craven Committee will discuss the plans - which are recommended for approval by council officers - on Tuesday.

Alison Brewer, who lives in Bawhead Road, told the meeting she disagreed with the results of a traffic survey conducted by consultants on behalf of the council, so conducted her own which she claimed found higher traffic flows.

She said: "The land has being allocated for housing for 45 years, but 45 years ago the traffic was not the traffic of today.

"Those houses that are being built in Bawhead Road - will they get insurance? It's called Springfield. You cannot get insurance on flood-risk areas."

Fellow resident David Hartley feared what implications the development would have on Earby, especially on transport links in and out of the town.

He said: "What will be the consequences for the community if there are a lot of new people who move in and do not get involved in village life?

"I do not want to see this village becoming a dormitory town. They will work in large towns, socialise and seek entertainment where they work.

"If Earby is to regenerate we need both jobs and high quality housing but first surveys must be done to assess flooding risks, traffic flows and sociological issues."

Trevor Cassidy added: "Just a fortnight ago there was a flood in Earby.

"If these houses are built there will be more flooding. The water runs down the hill and the concrete will cause more flooding."

Concerns were also raised about the loss of a play pitch at the site, the safety of pupils going to and from Earby County Primary School and vandalism of vehicles.

Alison Laycock, who was representing the views of residents of Stoneybank Road, said a lot of residents did not wish to see the proposed development go ahead and asked if there was a way of enforcing Country Holidays to build a staff entrance to its car park in Chapel Street. She added: "As the parent of three children we live here because it is clean, quiet and virtually on the countryside.

"We feel once the development is built our living would change from a quiet clean one to more of a town development."

Neil Watson, planning manager for Pendle Council, told the meeting it was forecast the population of the borough would rise by 15,000 by 2025 and that there were ways to keep run-off water on developed sites the same as greenfield sites.

Peter Atkinson, the council's highways engineer and design services manager, added: "If the planning application was successful there would be a whole raft of conditions with regards to traffic calming in Bailey Street."

The residents have now been urged to put their views in writing to the borough ahead of Tuesday's meeting.