WYRE planners look set to kick-out the latest scheme in the long-running row over Poolfoot Farm.

Officers will encourage members of the council's planning committee to turn down an application by Baxter Homes to build 24 new houses on part of the greenfield site.

An earlier application to build 510 homes on the site was dismissed by the Secretary of State after a public inquiry in March 2003.

The inquiry found that there was no need for the site to be used for housing and that the scheme should be rejected because it did not form part of a comprehensive plan for the site.

"In relation to the current application for residential development of part of the Poolfoot Farm site, the situation is unchanged," says a report to councillors, who were due to discuss the application at a meeting yesterday (Wednesday).

"With the amount of housing land currently available and the existence of other brownfield sites such as the former Fleetwood High School and Rossall Hospital, there is no justification for the release of the application site for housing at the current time."

Wyre Borough Council has received letters of objection from the Thornton Action Group citing concerns over road safety and opposing the loss of greenfield land. There were also four letters of objection from local residents.

The applicant claimed the area it hoped to develop would be well located in relation to community facilities including shops, schools, churches and transport links.

The report concludes: "The application site is greenfield. The development of the site for a residential use would fragment the larger Poolfoot Farm site and would not form part of a comprehensive development of the whole site."