A ROW has broken out after controversial plans to excavate clay from moors above Bacup were given the go-ahead.

At a site visit, Rossendale Council leader Coun Alan Fishwick said he was all set to put forward the agreed planning committee opinion that the plans for Tong Farm, off Pennine Road Estate, should be refused.

But then Conservative Bacup councillor Jimmy Eaton started speaking in favour of the plans, neglecting to tell the county councillors that the applicants were his sister and her husband.

Today Coun Eaton admitted he attended the meeting as a ward councillor and a spokeswoman for County Hall said yesterday's development control sub-committee had received a letter from him explaining the situation.

She said: "At the meeting members were advised that they should disregard what that particular member of the council had said as he has subsequently declared an interest in the application, being related by marriage."

Coun Fishwick said: "At the time most of us were not aware of his connection and he did not say he was a close family relative in my hearing."

Coun Fishwick said he was proposing that the council set up a standards committee, similar to the Central government's Nolan Committee, so the matter could be dealt with properly.

Rossendale Council objected on the grounds of traffic, amenity and the fear of what might happen to the land in the future.

The plans are for 340,000 cubic metres of boulder clay and fire clay to be removed and councillors fear the hole may be filled in with landfill.

Plans were approved subject to 40 stringent conditions.

County councillors asked for officers to scrutinise the conditions to make sure there is no possibility of the site being used for landfill.

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