COUNCIL chiefs have again demolished a top developer's plans to build houses in Burnley - despite being warned it could leave them facing a bill of tens of thousands of pounds.

Planning bosses had twice before backed local residents' objections and rejected applications from Barratt's to build on land at The Ridge, Burnley.

And when they again looked set to turn down a new 95-home application for the site, their legal officers warned it was simply a ridge too far.

They said it could result in huge costs being awarded against the council at any future appeal and public inquiry.

But councillors again ignored the advice and knocked down the application. Former deputy council leader Stuart Caddy backed objectors and told the planning committee: "I can defend £50,000. These people elected me to represent them and I will support them and stand up for them."

He won the day but it is an attitude which has already cost Burnley council taxpayers dear and could do so again. Last year the council had to pay £10,000 in costs to Burnley Health Trust after ignoring officer's advice and rejecting plans for a drugs clinic at Westgate, only to see the decision overturned on appeal.

And today it was announced the council had lost another major appeal - with a Department of the Environment inspector ruling the authority was wrong to turn down the Health Trust's application to build a mental health resource centre in Dorset Street, Burnley.

The inspector will announce soon whether the council, which employed a barrister to fight the appeal, will have to pick up the tab for the trust's costs too.

And last night councillors heard they also got it wrong when they rejected a plan for bedsits at a house in Coal Clough Lane.

An inspector overturned it and ordered that council taxpayers should meet costs.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.