THE future of historic gateposts at Greenbank Drive, Rawtenstall, will be decided by councillors tonight.

Planning officers are recommending approval to a scheme which would involve demolishing one post and moving another to allow access to two new homes.

There is a dispute over ownership of the ornamental gateposts. Rawtenstall Civic Trust says that if they are owned by the council, as suggested, their protection should be even more certain.

In a letter to the council Civic Trust chairman Kathy Fishwick says: "As proposers and guardians of the Conservation Area the council as owners should be even more adamant and impervious to pressure than an individual and should uphold the spirit of Conservation Area legislation."

Access to the houses already exists via Greenbank Park, she says adding: "The Trust feels that the council has a major responsibility in this matter and should uphold its obligations to the Town centre Conservation Area and the spirit of conservation as a whole."

Planning officers say the development of the site for two houses was established in 1994 along with access to Bacup Road and the closure of Greenbank Drive to through traffic.

Details of access provided for the removal of the left pedestrian gate pier and resiting of the central pier.

The drive from Bacup Road to the site entrance and the gate piers were in council ownership but in any event the exercise of private property rights was not material to a planning application.

Recommending approval, they say the alterations to the gated access sought to maintain the visual quality and historical associations and retention of the main gate piers.

Historically, the lower lodge marked the entrance to Greenbank Park House and grounds and was built in 1856.

A similar upper lodge remains on Newchurch Road but its gateposts have already been removed.