PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice wants to hear from people whose lives have been spoiled by developments such as roadworks which take years to come to fruition, or never materialise.

He says the planned Yorkshire-bound M65 extension through Colne is a classic example of blight at work.

"The proposal has now been dropped by the Government - but blight still casts its long shadow over land and property," said Mr Prentice.

The MP called for local views and opinions after the Government published a discussion paper on blight.

He spent nine months on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Select Committee looking at the impact of the new railway on people living nearby.

He said: "I know from my own postbag how damaging blight can be. It can ruin a person's health with all the worry and anxiety.

"The uncertainty about the eastward extension of the M65 sterilised land and property in Pendle for years - and it is still not finally resolved even though the Government has made it crystal clear the M65 is not going beyond Colne.

"The Government is now looking afresh at the law relating to blight and compensation and not before time. They want to hear from people who have something to say about the issue."

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