ANGRY householders have raised the roof over plans to raise the level of a town's tip near their homes.

But their campaign looks set for defeat, with county planning chiefs poised to give the go-ahead to the upward extension at Rowley landfill site in Burnley.

Residents said a higher-rise rubbish dump would cut out their view over picturesque countryside and cause noise and dust nuisance and leave a bad smell in the air.

Householders in the Ridge Road area linked with the Top O' Town Residents' Association to write letters and present a petition objecting to the five metre upward extension.

The plans would also add five years to the life of the tip.

And they have the backing of the town's MP who agrees that after putting up with a tip near their homes for 20 years, the time has come to end dumping at Rowley. But the county council's development control sub committee will be urged on Wednesday to give the go-ahead to the proposal.

An officers' report to members says screening and controls to cut down litter, dust and noise problems should reduce the impact on local residents to an acceptable level.

Further safeguards included in the proposal would also bring an end to the problem of acidic leachate from old mine workings in the area seeping into the nearby River Brun.

Officers say the scale and design of the development is such that the loss of views from properties would be minimised.

The report shows no objections from Burnley Council, the Environment Agency, Lancashire Wildlife Trust and English Nature which supports the restoration and conservation plans for the finished site.

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