A CAMPAIGN by residents to stop the extension of Lomeshaye Industrial Estate into green belt land was delivered a blow when councillors decided to extend the public consultation period.

Members of the public, who packed in to the council chamber and public gallery to hear the decision, were disappointed that the proposals were not rejected after their campaign received overwhelming support.

Members of the Pendle Borough Council policy committee voted to extend the public consultation across the whole borough, putting every possible expansion site, including Lomeshaye, back into the public domain.

It was decided the views and reports would come back to the committee and a decision would not be made until April 2001. The plans to expand the highly successful Pendle business park, in Nelson, up the hillside to the Barrowford-Padiham by-pass are aimed at providing extra space for industry. Public consultations on the plans have stirred up a storm of protests from members of the public, despite the promise of the creation of about 1,170 full-time jobs on the site and 350 indirect employment opportunities in the region -- this would represent 11.9 per cent of the present jobs in manufacturing and 5.2 per cent of all employment in Pendle.

An action group, formed by the Old Laund Booth Parish Council, intends to fight to save the 40 acres of green belt land earmarked for development.

Andrew Malcolm, a member of the group, said there had been 511 written objections, three petitions containing 118 names and several public meetings attended by hundreds of people all against the proposals.

Judith Malcolm, who spoke on behalf of the villagers of Fence, said: "There are protected species, such as bats, badgers and voles, living on that site. It would mean the destruction of our local wildlife."

"We have learned in the past that allowing our towns to sprawl into the countryside benefits no-one but the developers."

Picture: Meeting chairman Coun Azar Ali (right) talks to opposition group members (from left) James Malcolm, Craig Hudson and Andrew Malcolm