TWO sisters are celebrating after being told they won't have to leave the farm where they have lived all their lives when they retire.

Joan and Margaret Wallbank have been given the go-ahead to convert a barn at Davis Gate Farm, Knowle Green, into a house.

Councillors gave the proposed development the go-ahead against the advice of planning officers.

Ribble Valley Council's planning committee heard the sisters wanted to convert the barn in Stonygate Lane into a home for their retirement.

The scheme was supported by Ribchester Parish Council and local residents because it would improve an access track to several properties near the site and reduce vandalism.

Joan Wallbank told councillors she had lived at Coulthurst Farm with her sister for 39 years.

"My family has farmed at the site for four generations and my sister and I will be the last of the Wallbanks to do so," she said. "We have spent our whole lives in the village and it is all we know. We have a strong desire to remain in the village where we grew up and retire here. We don't want to leave."

The retirement home for the sisters would be funded by the sale of the farm, the meeting heard.

But the council's chief planning officer, Stewart Bailey, said the proposed development breached local policy.

"We have a local plan, which is the first point of reference when making decisions of this nature," he said.

"This scheme is clearly in breach of that plan and I warn you against making ad hoc decisions that come into conflict with it."

Councillors gave the development the thumbs-up by 10 votes to nine.

The two sisters said after the meeting that they were very pleased with the decision.

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