CAMPAIGNERS are hoping an application for listed status may secure the future of a former school which is planned to be developed for housing.

Hurstwood Developments is hoping to convert the buildings on the former Lea Bank School site in Cloughfold into seven houses and the planning sub-committee meeting on Tuesday is being advised by officers to approve the amended plans, but it is almost certain the decision will be deferred to the full engineering and planning committee.

The Save Lea Bank Action Group is pinning its hopes on an application which has been made to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to have the building and gardens spot-listed.

They believe the council has not considered all the effects, especially the loss of the historical estate to Lancashire.

Campaign organiser Rebecca Lawlor said: "All Rossendale councillors will be receiving a copy of the report for listed status as well as valid objections for refusal of this application.

"We feel the time scale in which this application has been assessed, time of objections and the time to write the officers report is wholly insufficient and we believe that Rossendale's planning officers have not digested or considered all the objections that were submitted for this application."

An officer's report to the committee says: "The proposal presented for decision represents a significant down-scaling of the development proposals for the Lea Bank Estate.

"The original proposals were wholly inappropriate upon this particularly attractive area of 'Greenland'."