PLANS for a caravan park which residents claim would swamp a rural Ribble Valley hamlet are set to be kicked out.

Planning councillors are being urged to refuse permission for the development, which would house 79 static caravans on land at Davis Wood Gate, off Clitheroe Road, in Dutton, near Ribchester.

Residents have fought the proposals for the development, which is enclosed by an area of forest designated as 'ancient woodland' popular with local people.

Under the proposals, the caravan park would have operated 11 months a year and also included a playground and warden's accommodation.

A report to the planning and development committee of Ribble Valley Council, which meets tomorrow night, reveals that 268 letters of objection have been sent in to the council.

A group called 'The Horseshoe Woods Action Group' was also set up to fight the proposals and won backing from Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans.

Letters to the committee objected to the proposals on grounds including over-intensive development close to woodland and that the caravans would be an eyesore.

Other letters claimed it would destroy the tranquillity of the area, would impact on wildlife including owls and badgers, would serve to exacerbate localised flooding in Ribchester and be tantamount to 'rural asset stripping.'

Locals also claim there is no benefit to the local economy and expressed it could lead to an increase in crime.

English Nature, Lancashire Wildlife Trust, the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, Lancashire Badger Group and the Campaign For Dark Skies have all opposed the project. A three-page submission from Dutton Parish Council insists: "The development is out of keeping with the parish, it would almost double the population in one go.

"This is not a case of an existing farmer trying to survive by diversification, rather a development company with a commercial proposition of no benefit to the community."

Concerns is also expressed that it would be visible from Longridge Fell, a popular walking area.

In his report to the committee, planning officer John Macholc, said that he felt studies into the environmental impact of the development, which should have been submitted with the application were 'inadequate.'

He said that the site could be supporting Great Crested Newts, which are protected species under European law.

"I am of the opinion that the scheme as submitted would have a detrimental impact on local woodland," he said.

"It is likely to lead to the need to fell mature trees."

Reasons for refusal include that it would have a detrimental impact on the visual amenity of the area, the report concludes.