COUNCILLORS will decide next week if an inquiry is to be heard into a controversial development in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Lancaster City Council kicked out plans for a road providing access to the previously approved development at Know Hill, Silverdale.

Now, the developer, Carlisle-based Two Castles Housing Association, is appealing against the decision and councillors must decide whether the appeal is to be heard or dealt with by letter.

Protesters are demanding that the appeal be heard but council officers had argued, firstly that the inquiry could not be heard and then further argued that it was too late to be heard.

Both arguments have been shown to be incorrect.

Officers are now arguing that, if the appeal is heard, it could prove expensive but protesters argue that, while that is theoretically true it would be extremely unlikely in reality.

The road plan was blocked because it would not be big enough to be adopted by the county council, and would therefore be inadequate to serve houses on the proposed development.