A LEADING councillor branded police objections to plans for 34 new houses at the old market site at Poulton Road as 'stupid and ridiculous' this week. Cllr Jean Yates' outspoken comments were heckled with shouts of 'shame' from a packed public gallery at Monday's planning meeting. The controversial plans which prompted the formation of a vigorous protest group, were given the go-ahead, passed with a casting vote by planning chairman, Cllr Eileen Blamire, of 11 to 10. The Poulton Residents' Committee has been campaigning for two years arguing that the plans include inadequate playing areas, poor car parking provision and will lead to traffic problems. They maintain that they fly in the face of the community's wishes.

In a letter to the council the police said a lack of open spaces was a contributing factor to the rise in juvenile nuisance in Poulton. These fears were also backed by three primary schools, the Lighthouse community centre, and the Morecambe branch of the Labour Party.

But Cllr Yates retorted: "34 extra houses are going to cause problems for the police? I find that ridiculous, I cannot accept it. I will be asking questions at County Hall."

Poulton Residents' Committee chairman Mike Ellis condemned Cllr Yates' comments as disgraceful.

He said: "There are professional people working in Poulton like the police, the Lighthouse community centre and schools trying to solve community problems and the council are just trying to add to them. Jean Yates was running down the police and I think that's disgraceful."

After the meeting outraged Poulton resident Linda Davies said: "The council have done what they wanted and treated us with contempt. They have not considered our feelings or objections."

The protest group now plan to take their grievances to the Department of Environment. MEMBERS of the Know Hill protest group are confident that this week's decision to build six houses in Silverdale, off Shore Road, will be reversed at a public inquiry.

Details of their objections have already been sent to the deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, in a 12-page dossier which accuses the council of breaking planning regulations.

The secretary of the protest group, Mike Ford issued a statement to the Citizen following Monday's planning decision.

He said: "We expected that the Labour group would pass this application with the help of the Liberal Democrats. It is quite astonishing that a number of very important arguments have simply been ignored. We are confident that when the full facts are made known to the Secretary of State for Environment, it will be reversed."

Members of the Know Hill action group have argued that there are other sites more suitable for housing in the village. These include the former Shaw Hadwin depot on Emesgate Lane and land off Townsfield and Cove Drive.

They maintain the development would have a detrimental effect in an area of outstanding beauty. Councillors voted for the plans in favour of bringing affordable houses to the countryside by 13 votes to one with six abstentions.

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