MORE than 100 people turned attended a meeting to discuss controversial plans for a large housing estate in a suburb of Burnley.

Chorley-based Banks' Group has applied for outline permission to develop an estate off Manchester Road, Lowerhouse.

A large part of the land is currently vacant, a further section is occupied by Nightfreight, who would be relocated and Lowerhouse Cricket Club would be granted a long lease and get a new fitness suite and clubhouse.

This week the planned 230-house estate has been scaled down to 200 homes after consultation with highways engineers.

An open meeting at Lowerhouse Working Men's Club organised by the Lowerhouse Residents' Association saw 150 residents and councillors objecting to the plans.

The association has already expressed its concern that part of the cricket club car park is marked out for housing in the company's plans.

Residents' association chairman Roy Dewhurst said: "At the meeting we gained support from council leader Stuart Caddy.

"We object strongly to the plans because at the moment on cricket days there is nowhere for people to park, so they go along the road which makes it dangerous for pedestrians."