A SENIOR judge has been caught up in a row over low cost housing in Clitheroe.

Clitheroe Community Church hosted a meeting last Saturday aimed at exploring possible uses for the former Barker's Primrose Nursery site in Whalley Road.

Church members wanted to gauge support for a project to tackle homelessness, including affordable housing and a community centre.

But angry residents living near the former nursery vented their fury at the proposed scheme, after rumours that it might include a centre for asylum seekers.

A letter circulated to neighbours in Whalley Road, Clitheroe, by East Lancashire judge Raymond Bennett, encouraged people to lobby councillors if they were not in favour of low-cost housing.

It said: "If you are not in favour of low cost housing you may wish to convey your views as to how the site should be developed to members of the planning committee."

He also asked for a volunteer to attend the meeting and report back to concerned residents.

Brian Clark, pastor at Clitheroe Community Church, said: "This was just an exploratory meeting to look at how that site might be used to combat homelessness, but people have picked up on our proposal.

"There are over 70 homeless people in Clitheroe. This might not be cardboard city, but young people are living on their friends' floors or moving to other towns because they can't afford to live here and if that's not homelessness I don't know what is.

"About 50 people turned up to the meeting, about 30 of them quite angry and their attitude shocked me.

"It was just an exploratory meeting and I am very disappointed that letters on this matter have been disseminated.

"We just intended looking at how we might support our young and homeless people in a Christian manner."

Judge Bennett, who lives in the area, said his letter was simply intended to inform people of the meeting and what might happen to the site.

He said: "People must make up their own minds what they want for the site and make their views known. I have nothing else to say on the matter."

Ribble Valley Council forward planning manager Mike Kirby confirmed no formal application had been received for the site. "I am aware that letters about this site are in circulation, but we have received no formal application," he said.

Ribble Valley councillor Margaret Sutcliffe, who represents the Primrose ward, said she had received letters and phonecalls about proposals for the site and there was a lot of concern.

"We don't have a problem of homelessness in Clitheroe, but the lack of affordable housing is certainly an issue.

"I feel sorry for local young people trying to get on the housing ladder. They shouldn't have to move to Accrington or Burnley to buy a house.

"There are a lot of concerns about this site, but at this stage it's all heresay and rumour, and any proposal will have to go through the usual planning process."

Clitheroe Community Church is to hold another meeting on the matter at its King's Centre base in Millthorne Avenue, Clitheroe, on Wednesday, July 2, at 7.30pm.