THORNTON residents filled the public gallery when campaigners gave their evidence objecting to the controversial plan to build 510 houses at Poolfoot Farm, Burn Naze.

Howard Phillips, chairman of Thornton Action Group, told the Government inquiry that the applicants, Glasgow-based NPL Estates, claimed the people of Thornton wanted the development.

"I am anxious to rebut that claim," he said. "Part of our case must lie in the backing that we have from ordinary local people."

He said that people were worried about extra traffic on an already congested road network and the pollution associated with that traffic, and the strain being put on their schools and medical services.

"They are already experiencing these effects from the 200 houses on Stanah and Hillylaid Roads, and there are still 300 more houses to be completed on those sites."

Mr Phillips reminded the government planning inspector that the inquiry was only into the proposals for housing on Poolfoot Farm, and not into development of the adjoining former ICI Hillhouse industrial estate, which NPL also controlled.

He said the site was not included in the original local plan for housing but, with the developments now being completed, it meant that 46pc of all the new houses proposed in Wyre Borough would be in Thornton.

Mr Phillips claimed that development of Poolfoot Farm, together with other housing projects, would mean that 420 to 564 primary school places and 300 to 350 secondary school places would have to be found. Parents in new houses already had to send their children to schools outside Thornton to Anchorsholme, Poulton and even Great Eccleston.

He said the A585 route to the motorway was already close to capacity, with traffic at a standstill at peak periods. Seventy four per cent of employed people on the new estates travelled outside the local area to work. To add to the congestion by allowing the Poolfoot Farm development would be sheer folly.

Mrs Margaret Verity, of the Burn Naze Residents' Association, told the inquiry about her fears of flood dangers being increased by the proposed development.

"There is strong feeling that local residents were not consulted for their views," she said. "They are worried about possible contamination spreading from the former ICI site. I've been told that during the First World War they manufactured mustard gas on the site. No one knows that they will find when the bulldozers move in."

The inquiry was adjourned until next Thursday (October 10) when final submissions will be heard.