LEYLAND residents have slammed South Ribble Borough Council for rushing through Towngate's development plans - even though they've been in the pipeline for 35 years!

A report issued by the residents says: "Although we support the council's desire for a speedy conclusion to this saga, the community needs to be involved in the planning of their town with a public meeting to discuss the development as promised.

"It will be built adjacent to the council designated conservation area - the only one in Leyland.

" We are concerned that a bowling alley, cinema and drive-thru fast food outlet situated so close will not compliment Leyland's heritage of 200-year-old Step houses, the Saxon Leyland Cross, parish church and alms houses.

"This is contradictory to the council's promise to protect and conserve our heritage in both urban and rural communities.

"Leyland also has a significant traffic problem, particularly the Leyland Cross area. This problem will be made much worse by the opening of a Tesco megastore. The traffic issue has been discussed with the local planning office and although in agreement, they could not see any way to re-route traffic."

The residents go on to state that the development is contrary to government policy because it has no bus or train station, 500 spaces for cars, and requires the felling of mature trees to build a pub.

A spokesman for South Ribble Borough Council said that they were aware of the objections and were looking into them.

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