PLANS to build a new housing estate have been opposed by angry residents who fear their area is being swamped by large scale developments.

Beazer Homes has submitted a planning application to Blackburn with Darwen Council to build 194 dwellings off Sandy Lane in Darwen.

But residents believe that if the application gets the go-ahead, local schools and roads will be unable to cope with the influx of families to the area following a recent spate of developments. Currently, Barratt Homes, Persimmon Homes, Wilcon, Wain Homes and Oakdale all have developments in a one-mile radius of the latest proposal.

In a letter of objection, one resident said: "There is inadequate infrastructure in Lower Darwen to support a further major housing development.

"The road network off the motorway is presently under severe strain and without immediate action the present road problems will be intolerable and dangerous. A further development will only exasperate the situation.

"Local primary and junior schools are either at capacity or very near capacity. The pressure for places is increasing rapidly and with all the current housing developments targeting families from other areas with a range of three or four-bedroom houses there will certainly be a demand for places that cannot be met. Secondary schools such as Darwen Vale are also over subscribed." Another local home owner said: "The local residents' quality of life has suffered considerably during the last three years, with the increase of traffic, and in particular the construction of the M65 and associated noise, diversions, vibrations, mud, dust and heavy construction traffic."

At last night's (Thursday) planning sub-committee, the council recommended to approve the scheme but has set out strict guidelines for the developers to follow.

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