FOUR protest groups fighting against controversial housing plans have joined forces to lodge a complaint against Lancaster City Council to the deputy Prime Minister. Members of the Altham Road Meadow campaign, the Poulton Residents Committee, the Know Hill Protest Movement in Silverdale and residents in Nether Kellet are appealing to John Prescott in charge of the Environment to hold a public inquiry into all four housing proposals. In a 12-page document to be sent out this week, they outline a series of actions by the city council where they claim city planners acted improperly. Their complaint also has the backing of the city's independent councillors.

Mike Ford, of the Know Hill Protest Movement, said that when they got together they noticed a number of striking similarities among their grievances.

He explained that permission has been granted to build four houses in Nether Kellet and a decision to build six houses in Silverdale will be decided this month. Both housing plans were in green field sites for affordable housing.

He said: "In both village cases there were alternative 'brown' sites that could have been regenerated for housing. And the assessment for local housing need was formulated after Housing Associations had bought the land instead of before."

Meanwhile members of the Altham Road Meadow Campaign and Poulton Residents Committee say their objections to housing plans were constantly over-looked.

Independent Cllr Tricia Heath said: "We are grieved at the way the planning department handled our cases, putting housing on every site against the wishes of the local people."

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