A CAMPAIGN has been launched to stop houses being built on fields in West Craven.

Conservative councillors on Pendle’s Executive Committee had agreed to approve a proposal, which would have seen green spaces in Clifford Street and Parker Street, Barnoldswick, allocated for future housing developments.

But Craven Coun David Whipp, speaking from the public gallery at Nelson Town Hall, demanded a deferral of the decision to allow residents to comment.

His fellow Lib Dem councillors are now spearheading a campaign and collecting names for a petition.

The proposal, which was set to be approved at Thursday’s meeting, was put forward by Earby Coun Chris Tennant.

After the meeting Coun Whipp said: “Residents haven’t had any chance to object.

“It’s a denial of democracy. If I hadn’t made a fuss the decision would have been made there and then. It’s disgusting.”

The land in Parker Street is owned by Pendle Council while Lancashire County Council owns the land in Clifford Street. The sites had once been earmarked for off-street parking and a community planting area.

Lib Dem campaigners claim Conservative councillors have already agreed to allocate the land for housing.

Barnoldswick Town Councillor David Stead said: “The Tories are breaking their promise not to build on green fields in Barnoldswick. Even worse, the proposal is that a school playing field would be used for housing.

“This is another case of Conservative councillors wanting to flog land off to make a quick buck.

“They appear to be twisting the system to increase the value of land that they own. Quite frankly, this stinks.”