A CONTROVERSIAL scheme to create a crossing across a deep ravine on farmland in Pendle is set to get the green light this week.

County councillors are recommended to grant planning permission for the scheme at Spurn Clough, Moor Isles Farm, Reedley Hallows, tomorrow, Wednesday.

Farmer Stuart Douglas applied to in-fill part of the ravine to form an access to and from outlying parts of his farm. At the moment he has to transport animals by trailer along a lengthy diversion along narrow country roads.

Opponents of the scheme said it would spoilt the countryside. They are also concerned at the large numbers of lorries that will be used to transport materials to fill in the ravine.

Originally the plan was to use 250,000 tonnes of inert materials to form the causeway, which would have taken two years and meant up to 20 lorry trips a day. After negotiations with the county council the scheme has been reduced to 9,000 tonnes of materials but will still take six months to complete with the same number of lorry journeys.

A report to the county council's development committee said the landfilling operation should be completed by the end of next April. Lorries carrying materials to the site will access it off Greenhead Lane.