RESIDENTS have lost their battle to stop developers building 124 houses on a historic site where Cromwell gathered his troops.

Homeowners in Fulwood fought long and hard to save the land close to Eastway and Levensgarth Avenue which they say is not suitable for such a large development.

But at a meeting of Preston Council's Planning Committee on Thursday last week councillors voted to give the houses the go-ahead.

Fulwood Councillor Liz Clarkson who led the protest said that original plans to build 50-60 homes were acceptable but 124 would increase traffic, lead to overcrowded schools and cut down community land.

She said: "I am disappointed because it's not the right site for so many houses.

"It was as if they were not listening. They heard the good reasons for it not being accepted and a lot of them agreed and then voted against it."

Councillor Clarkson also expressed disappointment that none of the committee members brought up the historic value of the land.

She said: "It's a disgrace. It is well documented that Cromwell did gather his troops there. The councillors are forgetting the history of their own town."

Levensgarth Avenue resident Christine Coulton, whose home overlooks the building site, said: "It has still not sunk in. They did not do their homework and they did not address the issues.

"I feel now that I've had a slap in the face. I think there should be an inquiry."

Vice chair of the council's planning committee Councillor Derek Barton said: "If we had turned it down then the developer would have won on appeal and it would have cost the taxpayers a lot of money.

"If you start looking at the density it is only about as dense as everywhere else round there.

"I'm also fully aware that that it's where Cromwell gathered his troops but I don't think that is really the issue there."

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