COUNCIL planners are hoping to settle a bitter row over a fence which has quite literally divided a housing estate.

Residents of Whinney Heights estate off Roman Road in Highercroft, Blackburn, have been arguing over a fence which was rapidly erected across a path leading to wasteland off Haslingden Road.

The six foot wooden barricade, costing £320, was paid for by nine residents living at the top end of Britten Close to stop their children playing on the wasteland.

Several petitions have been lodged with Blackburn Council's planning sub-committee arguing for and against the fence.

Councillors are set to approve letters being sent to each estate household asking them to choose whether they want the fence or not at Thursday's committee meeting (November 14).

Lesley Mitchell, of 33 Britten Close, has organised the petition to keep the fence in place.

The mother of two said: "We put the fence up to stop our children reaching the Observatory Pub and wasteland where there are some very undesirable people hanging about and terrorising them.

"Those opposing the fence live further down the estate and don't face the same problems."

Opponents say they were not consulted about the fence and claim the land it cuts across is a public right of way.

Anti-fence petition organiser, Don McKinlay, of Britten Close, said: "I've never seen any undesirable people hanging about - that's an exaggeration. Perhaps people should look after their kids more.

"This was not a democratic decision and we want access to the shops on Haslingden Road without having to walk all the way round Roman Road."

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