RESIDENTS in the Healey Wood area of Burnley are worried that plans to transfer an electro-plating unit to a site near their homes could be a health hazard.

They are objecting to plans by RS Plating to move from the Rossendale Road industrial site to Springfield Road despite assurances by managing director Steve Preston there would no no health hazard.

Worried residents met near to the site last night to plan their campaign against the company's application.

A petition is being organised, protest letters are being sent to the council's planning office and group members plan to speak when the application is discussed by the planning committee. One of the organisers, Bob Atkinson, said there was great concern for the health of people living in the area.

They understand toxic chemicals such as cyanide and cadmium are used in the process and expressed fears over what affects they could have on people living nearby.

Only 22 householders were notified from the hundreds in the area and residents only found out about the planning application at the weekend, said Mr Atkinson.

Another local resident, Ruth Stinchon, said they did not agree with an industrial process moving from an industrial site to an area close to houses, a children's play area and allotments.

She is urging neighbours to send letters of protest to the planning office in Parker Lane before the August 7 deadline quoting the planning number PS/01/0416. Ruth said many people had come back from their annual holiday to find the threat of this on their doorstep. The application is due to be discussed by planning councillors on August 16, but objections have to be in by next Tuesday.

Mr Preston said he rented the Billington Road unit, the former Lucas factory, and they were now going off the site.

During the summer he has been forced to make half his workforce redundant and, with the remaining six workers, wants to build a new unit on land he owns at the back of the former Elgin factory in Springfield Road. He said that there would be no cyanide on site, no health hazard and no fumes.

Mr Preston added: "We are monitored by the Environment Agency. Any concerns are more with the water we discharge to the drains and that is controlled by North West Water who monitor it every couple of weeks."

Landscaping, he said, would improve the appearance of the site which is currently used for fly tipping.

The company deals mainly in silver plating for electrical components.