A STORM of protest has been whipped up against plans to transform a picturesque quarry into a holiday complex.

More than 200 people have signed a petition and dozens of letters written to Ribble Valley Council protesting about the development of Green Bank Quarry, which overlooks Lower Road, in Longridge.

Plans have been submitted to the borough council for 30 stone chalets to be built on the site, along with a restaurant, staff quarters, a children's playroom, large dining room and lift shafts.

A large car park will also be built on the site, which residents claim is currently a wildlife haven and a venue for picnics by families, who enjoy meals by the side of the flooded quarry.

Council officers are now planning to visit the site to see if it is suitable for such a development.

A spokesman for the council said: "We are planning a visit to the site involving planning officers and our countryside officer.

"We need a proper assessment of the impact on the environment that this development would have. We will do this initially by pegging out on the site what parts would be developed on."

A spokesman for the residents' action group, which has collected a petition of more than 200 signatures, said: "We have had all sorts of people sign the petition. Only a few of those approached have refused.

"Ramblers, walkers, anglers and just regular members of the community have given us their support. This is a community facility at the moment and it is our concern that it will be lost.

"We have to stop them building on this site because there will be absolutely no benefit to the community if it goes ahead."

Longridge Town Council has already objected to the restaurant on the site and asked for the stone-clad chalets to be made out of timber.

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans, has also backed the campaign to halt the development, by Paceform Ltd, who were unavailable for comment.

It is expected to be placed before Ribble Valley's planning and development committee in September.