CAMPAIGNERS who fought against an expansion of the Lomeshaye Industrial Estate into Barrowford have threatened to strike up again in response to news of further industrial development.

A piece of greenfield land opposite Nelson and Colne College, in Colne, has been revealed as a potential site for industrial use during the next ten years by Pendle Council.

The grassed area, off Barrowford Road, was earmarked during a study into how Pendle could meet its needs for housing, employment, industry, leisure and retail from now until 2016.

Coun Allan Vickerman said: "We had a campaign going in Barrowford called 'Keep Off The Grass' when another site was earmarked for development and that site has now been taken out of the equation. Now all the land behind the row of houses facing the college has been identified for industrial use. It could be like another Lomeshaye Industrial Estate.

"We want to protect our green areas and I'm sure there will be an outcry when people find out. There will need to be a road linking it to the motorway as well."

Mick Simpson, one of the co-ordinators of the 'Keep Off The Grass' campaign, said: "I am going to get back in touch with people and I would think the campaign will begin again. If this site is turned into an industrial estate it is going to ruin a valley.

"My thought all along is that statistically Pendle doesn't need it, but nationally it is going to have to have it. The access road that would be put in would be of bypass standard.

"I don't want it near Barrowford and I'm sure many other people will feel the same way. There are little enough playing fields and I don't think there's enough industry round here to fill it."

Leader of the council, Coun Alan Davies, said: "A crucial element for Pendle's future is provision of land for employment. Unless we provide adequate space for local companies to expand and for new businesses to come to Pendle, our economy will stagnate. The choice of employment sites has been very difficult and is based on access to the M65 and closeness to our main towns."

Coun Tony Beckett said: "The County Planning blueprint recognises that Pendle is a priority for regeneration and that we must find 35 hectares of additional land for employment sites. Fortunately we have already identified 15 hectares which means we now need an additional 20 hectares of new land -- which is about half the size of Lomeshaye Industrial Estate."