CONTROVERSIAL plans to build on St Annes sand dunes could go ahead because of a council u-turn, a furious Fylde campaign group is claiming.

And Defend the Dunes spokesman, Ralph Carter, claims a public inquiry into a proposed three-storey block of 18 flats in the dunes faces the axe because Fylde Borough Council has flown in the face of one of its own decisions.

The inquiry, scheduled for May 28, was called for when Blackpool developer Crowden Collins appealed against the rejection of his original plans to build on the dilapidated former Blackburn children's home.

But the council's development control committee said it 'would be minded' to approve a second, amended application -- and not now oppose the appeal.

Mr Carter said: "Council officers have come to an agreement with the developers that if they make a small change in the proposal the council will not contest the appeal and the development control committee has decided to go along with this plan.

"The small change in the proposal is to drop the planned car ports, which has nothing to do with the reasons the original scheme was turned down."

Planning department documents state that the original application was "contrary to both National Guidance and the Development Plan Police" and "contrary to the aims of green belt policy".

But a report to the development control committee on April 2 this year advised the committee that "subject to the removal of the car ports from the scheme by the appellant at the start of the inquiry" that it should not oppose the appeal, which is still pending.

Planning officer Nigel Robinson said: "With regards to the local inquiry we don't know whether that will go ahead.

"The committee resolved to refuse the original application and then a revised application was submitted with more information."

The committee, he confirmed, were 'minded to approve the application'.