IS it any wonder that people in Burnley who try to make a difference in their own areas feel totally disenchanted when they are obstructed by councillors and council officers reputedly acting in the 'best interests' of the town?

Why I have such a negative opinion is highlighted by the recent approval of outline planning permission for an industrial estate on land off Liverpool Road (LET, January 28).

Consent was granted on a 6-5 majority by the planning committee, being completely in conflict with the democracy that should prevail in local government.

Planning committee chairman Councillor David Halsall, stated: "Sometimes tough decisions have to be made and we had to think of the whole of Burnley."

These comments were totally detached from the professionally-obtained, legal representations made by the local residents who took advice from a top planning lawyer which highlighted that:

A full environmental-impact assessment of the application should be carried out prior to any decision by the planning committee.

The new Local Plan allocates 20 sites, totalling 71.8 hectares for business and industrial land provision.

Therefore, there is an over-provision of some 16.8 hectares.

A traffic assessment carried out by Lancashire County Council indicated "concern about the high risk of accidents as a result of the application."

This risk was increased by access to the site being directly across from a Lowerhouse Junior School. In addition, the key junction on Accrington/Liverpool Road was "already operating at, or close to, its practical capacity and opportunities for increasing capacity are severely restricted."

The Wildlife Trust on a previous application recommended a further ecological study -- why wasn't this asked for as part of this application?

The planning committee should have, at least, deferred their decision to allow a full environmental impact assessment. Instead, they allowed themselves to be led into making a misinformed decision, forcing local residents to seek legal redress as the only option to support the best interest of their community.

Councillor Halsall should have instructed the officers to investigate the issues raised in order to satisfy the committee that they were acting in the best interests of Burnley.

This has now resulted in a raised likelihood of accidents and further traffic congestion in and around Rosegrove and Lowerhouse, destruction of a wildlife habitat that goes back hundreds of years, more empty industrial units and less open space in the town.

DONNIE DORAN, Lowerhouse Lane, Burnley.