THE Mayor of Pendle today blasted her own council planners over a suggestion that land designated for a Millennium Green could be used for housing.

Councillor Edwina Sargeant has issued a stern "hands off" warning to Pendle Council planning officers over the site between Shaw Street and Colne Water, Waterside, Colne.

She said: "The council has already decided to transfer this land to the Millennium Green scheme.

"The suggestion that the council should back track on this promise is just not on."

The area was included in a list of possible sites across the borough drawn up by council planners that could be earmarked for new housing.

"This is a pleasant grassed area at present," said Coun Sargeant.

"It is due to become part of the Millennium Green scheme which is being promoted by the Waterside community project. "I say, firmly, hands off this site. It is already allocated as part of the greening of the valley at Waterside. I have the support of my Liberal colleagues in Colne. We will fight tooth and nail to stop this land being stolen from its agreed use."

Coun Sargeant said it was hoped the Green scheme would go ahead later this year provided cash backing could be found.

Problems with funding meant the original scheme had to be scaled down but Coun Sargeant said she was "95 per cent certain" the Millennium Green will go ahead. It will include an open air stage, a Millennium arch, walkways and tree and shrub planting.

Andy Wiggett, Pendle's senior planning officer, said the the housing suggestion was only a proposal.

He said: "We support the Millennium Green fully, but there has been some confusion over it.

"If it did not go ahead this site could have possible housing use but only as a fall-back scheme if the Green does not happen."

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