A CONTROVERSIAL scheme to build a 30-chalet holiday village on the outskirts of Longridge has been given the go-ahead despite hundreds of objections.

But a further proposal by developers Paceform Ltd to build a restaurant, reception area, and staff accommodation, as well as a 44-space car park on the site at Green Bank Quarry has been deferred until firmer assurances are given that the restaurant will not be open to the general public.

A group of around 20 protesters packed the gallery at Ribble Valley Borough Council's chambers to hear the scheme being given approval by the planning and development committee.

Outline planning consent, for the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, was first given in 1995.

But Longridge Town Council, the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire and nearby residents lodged objections to the latest proposal which included more detail on what types of materials would be used for the chalets.

Twenty three letters of objection and two petitions were sent to the council. The first petition, with 33 signatures, was from the Longridge District Local History Society, which raised concerns over the loss of amenities and the destruction of the natural beauty, local heritage and the quarry.

The second, which contained 200 signatures from local residents also raised concerns about the destruction of wildlife.

Objectors also felt that the two-storey, three-bedroomed chalets in stone with slate roofs seemed more like a housing estate and should be built in a traditional timber design.

In the amended plans, Paceform Ltd incorporated 10 timber cabins into the 30 planned chalets, to be situated near to the lake, and the other 20 to be made from stone to complement the nearby stone quarry face.

Speaking on behalf of local residents, Dave Roberts, of Lower Road, Longridge said: "The people who stay at these chalets will be self sufficient and will be deterred from using local pubs, and shops if these plans go ahead.

"This scheme will totally destroy an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the use of stone materials is way over the top and will make the area look like a housing estate."

Longridge councillor Rose Croasdale said she felt all the chalets should be made from timber.

Town planner Janet Dixon, speaking on behalf of Paceform Ltd said the development had been approved on two separate occasions -- in 1995 and renewed in 2000.

She added: "Tourism is growing in the Ribble Valley and this development will go some way to creating employment and an economic spin off."

Members of the committee agreed to approve the scheme, on condition that an agreement was entered in to to prevent applications to change the chalets to residential use in the next five years.

But the committee deferred a decision on a restaurant until the developers could assure them it would be exclusively used by guests