THE Forest of Burnley's plans to plant one million new trees in and around the town have been jeopardised by a row over land at Worsthorne.

The Forest of Burnley, an environmental group committed to planting a million trees in Burnley, wanted to plant 200 hectares of new woodland on the moors above Worsthorne and Cliviger.

But because of the death of a former tenant on the land those plans have been jeopardised.

The land owners, United Utilities, is waiting until it has discussed the plans with the new tenants before a decision is made about how much land is committed to the reforestation project.

The proposed 200 hectare new forest around Sheden Valley, the top of Foxstones Lane and above Hurst Wood Village and Cant Clough, has already been reduced to 49 hectares after concerns for birdlife were raised.

Chairman of the Forest of Burnley and Burnley councillor Roger Frost said: "It was cut down from 200 hectares to 49 hectares about 12 months ago.

"Unfortunately since the agreement was made, and before planting could take place, the tenant on the land died and her family did not want the planting to take place.

"People in the Forest of Burnley feel that is has been a hell of a struggle.

"We are very sad that this project is not going to be anything like we originally planned.

"We are now going to get about 10 per cent of what we wanted in one of our most prominent areas."

Coun Frost added that United Utilities had in the past done a great deal for the Forest of Burnley and singled out the new woodland at Dunockshaw for praise.

A spokesman for United Utilities said: "The prospective tenant has not objected.

"We are discussing details of the planting with them to modify it so that all parties are well satisfied.

"Any issues that Roger Frost has got, we are happy to speak to him about them.

"We are completely committed to the Forest of Burnley as people can see from the work we have done so far."

Burnley Council and United Utilities have spent £40,000 over eight years on an environmental assessment of the scheme at Worsthorne and Hurstwood.

English Nature objected to the scheme to protect upland breeding birds, leading to the scheme being rejected by the Forestry Commission.