FURIOUS residents look set to lose their long-running fight to block plans to build an exclusive estate in a Ribble Valley village.

Planning permission has already been granted for the exclusive development in Billington.

Developers Holden Homes raised a storm of protest when they unveiled plans to build 57 luxury homes with garages on land off Whalley New Road.

And, despite protesters winning the backing of the local parish council and county councillor Chris Holtom, the scheme was approved by the borough council.

Villagers claim the development will blight the countryside and are calling for the land to be turned into a woodland to mark the Millennium. Their latest attempt to block the housing estate looks set to fail when Lancashire's highways and transportation general purposes sub-committee meets on Wednesday.

Campaigners are objecting to traffic orders being introduced to improve access to the estate.

Planners say speed and parking restrictions, traffic calming measures and changes to the road are needed to cope with the extra cars.

Residents claim the changes will create a major inconvenience and are opposed to the narrowing of Whalley New Road at several spots.

But Ribble Valley Council and the police support the planned changes along with county council traffic experts.

Highways officials are urging councillors to approve the plans when they meet on Wednesday.

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