A COUNCILLOR has called for planners to be more farmer-friendly in a bid to rid the countryside of rundown buildings.

Coun Tim O'Kane called for changes to Hyndburn Council's policy on developing green belt land after a man resubmitted a rejected application to replace an agricultural building with a house.

Paul Starkie wants to demolish the disused agricultural building and build a home on land off Clayton Hall Drive, Clayton-le-Moors.

Councillors rejected the application in June but it was re-presented to members of the development services committee this week without alteration. Although officers had recommended it for refusal, councillors agreed to conduct a site visit after Coun O'Kane argued that "dilapidated" buildings were a target for vandals.

The current local plan, adopted in 1996, states that planning permission will not be granted, except in exceptional circumstances, for new buildings on green belt land, other than those for agriculture, forestry, outdoor sport, and cemeteries.

But Coun O'Kane has argued that policy should be changed: "I think that we are working against ourselves if we don't permit a development which replaces potentially dangerous buildings with a development which is acceptable to nearby residents. If nearby residents are happy with it, to me it protects the green belt.

Coun O'Kane added: "Why should a farmer who has tended the land all his life be told he can't do anything with his own building. That seems discriminatory.

"I don't see why you can't demolish a building and build within the footprint of it if you are a farmer and have ceased use of the building.Of course we would like to retain it as agricultural use but it's not practical and it's creating a problem. With intelligent use of planning we could alleviate the problem and help the farmers."

Mr Starkie said: "It's a derelict building and it's dangerous. As for it setting a precedenttwo properties down there have already been built on green belt land. It would tidy up the area and all the residents are for it."

Coun O'Kane called on farmers to make their views known during the consultation period for the next local plan.

Opposing the move Coun Dave Parkins said: "If we start demolishing agricultural buildings and put houses on them we are setting a precedent. You can't open the floodgates with something like this. A site visit won't change the policy."