PLANNING bosses have vowed to keep a closer eye on projects in Blackburn and Darwen after claims that large homebuilders were flouting regulations.

The claims were made by residents protesting at a 120-home project earmarked on land off Haslingden Road, Guide, near to Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn.

An opposition campaign to the Miller Homes project had already been defeated once earlier this year.

The firm re-submitted its planning application to the planning and highways committee because it wanted several houses to be three storeys high instead of two.

Residents told the meeting lorries had been using an unauthorised access on to the site, cutting over a footpath and running over a kerb rather than travelling further to enter the land through the designated road.

Coun Paul Browne said: "They have turned the area into a quagmire. They need to use wheel washers to stop dropping dirt on what is a very busy road."

Coun Frank Connor, chairing the meeting, said: "We shall be sending an officer up first thing tomorrow.

"We will not accept firms flouting the rules we lay down.

"Unfortunately, we only have one enforcement officer who is under a lot of pressure to visit sites.

"We can only visit sites when complaints are made."

Approval was given to the new project on the site.

Residents claimed the new plans would mean three-storey buildings would overlook their cottages, which have stood in the area since the 1600s.