COUNCILLORS are set to object to plans for two flagship schools earmarked for Burnley as part of a huge £250 million overhaul of education.

As part of the Building Schools for the Future programme (BSF) Burnley Council has received a planning application to build two new super schools in Towneley Park and on land off Rossendale Road.

Under the scheme Lancashire County Council (LCC) wants to replace the existing Towneley High School with the new Unity College -- sited on the lower Towneley playing fields -- and Habergham and Ivy Bank Schools with Hameldon College.

However, the authority's development control committee is being urged to oppose the county council's plans when it meets this Thursday.

A report recommends members object to plans for Unity College because of flooding concerns and it says the existing Towneley school site is more suitable.

It also says councillors should oppose the Hameldon development because of public transport and road safety issues coupled with the fact the land is a greenfield site.

However, the council cannot reject the plans because a final decision will be made by LCC.

The news comes as it was today revealed that a campaign group fighting to prevent building on Towneley Park could employ a planning specialist to take up its case.

Fulledge Action Community Team is to discuss the possibility of hiring a planning consultant to stop Burnley's 'Jewel in the Crown' making way for the Unity College.

And chairwoman Margaret Nelson called on residents to demand for a public inquiry into the Towneley scheme.

She said: "We are going to look at employing a planning consultant to fight it for us.

"Planning is decided on set issues they don't take into account people's feelings.

"The majority of us don't understand they whys and wherefores of planning laws.

"We are looking into it but we will have to do it pretty quickly because I think it will be a good way to go, but it is decision FACT will make."

BSF will see 11 high schools in Burnley and Nelson replaced with eight 'super schools'.

If the Unity College is approved Towneley High would be turned into parkland

But Mrs Nelson called on Burnley Council not to sell two strips of land it owned by Morse Street and the River Calder which she said would be needed for the scheme.

She added: "People think a lot of Towneley and the park. People feel it's their park

"I think the county council wants people to think it's all cut and dried. You have to keep fighting and we are asking people to send letters to LCC and John Prescott

"It is important we get it to go for a public inquiry."