A GROUP of Silverdale residents fighting greenfield housing plans in the village have decided to put their money where their mouth is and mount a legal challenge to the council's planners.

Opponents of a social housing development at Know Hill have clubbed together to raise £3,000 to employ a barrister to look into the controversial plans. If the advice is favourable they are determined to raise funds to move for a judicial review.

Residents are angry and claim the planning permission for six houses on a greenfield site went against the council's own policy and that there wasn't a real housing need. They also fear a much bigger development is in the pipeline.

The council and housing association involved have consistently denied a larger development is planned and insist there is a need for affordable housing - they state the development will be just six houses.

A spokesman for the residents was delighted that the villagers were willing to take their fight further, and commented: "It's fantastic news. For people to actually stump up the cash shows the strength of feeling and £3,000 is a considerable sum and the residents appear quite prepared to raise more if and when it's needed. Hopefully we will get a judicial review."

The planning application for housing on Know Hill was passed in 1997 but the dwellings have yet to be constructed.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.