DEVELOPERS are planning to build a new housing estate near Calderstones Hospital, Whalley.

Ribble Valley Borough Council’s planning and development committee will discuss whether or not to grant permission for 46 properties, including 13 affordable homes, to be built off Pendle Drive near the medium secure unit.

The plan is for a mix of two, three, four and five bedroom properties to be built, but some fear the development will put extra strain on education and travel facilities in the village.

“We have objected to this even though we only generally object to large scale plans,” said Nick Walker, chairman of the Save Whalley Village action group.

“But essentially we have objected because already the village is choked with traffic and already the parents cannot get their children into the schools.

“The sewage treatment plant is already at capacity so how have they managed to get this in?”

But Mr Walker said that the group was pleased that the plans proposed to build on a brownfield site rather than on greenbelt land.

“We have mixed emotions about it – it will add to our problems in terms of infrastructure,” he said.

Ribble Valley Borough Councillor Joyce Holgate said: “All planning decisions are difficult to make, especially when it is in your own village.

“But you have to look at the things for and against the development and take all the planning regulations into consid- eration. We have to take all the objections into account,” she said.

The decision on whether to accept the proposals is due to be made on Thursday.