Longridge Dilworth ward councillor Ken Hind todayurged  Longridge residents who objected to the  application by the VH Partnership  to construct 123 homes behind Higher Road , Longridge, to renew their objections to the inspector to be appointed by the Secretary of State for Local Government and Communities  in an appeal  which is to be dealt with by written submission . 

Ken Hind commented '' This application involved the demolition of a bungalow at 74, Higher Road , Longridge to create access to the site and construction of 123 houses. The application was made by the VH partnership a group of landowners not backed by a major builder. It created in the view of local residents a dangerous junction on to Higher Road. The owners of the homes on either side of the entry feared it  would undermine their houses. Higher Road is a busy  road containing terraced housing with no garages requiring street parking and often goes down to a single track road when busy with parking on either side.”

''Ribble Valley Borough Council has an approved development plan which sets out Longridge as one of 3  growth areas in the borough with 960 homes planned over a 20 year period to 2028. We have already exceeded the total building consents for homes with  with 10 years to go .There is an adequate supply of new homes planned for the next 5 years and we do not need these homes in Longridge  City of Preston have granted  applications for 552 homes on land and green fields immediately adjacent to Longridge . This means that there are granted planning consents for Longridge in the 2 authorities of  about 1100 awaiting construction which will have to be commenced within the  next 3 years The market will be saturated . The infrastructure of Longridge has not kept pace with the planning applications schools, health centres roads and utilities.”

''The Neighbourhood plan is near to being finalised and has to be considered by all future planning applicants .It will help  to provide what Longridge needs , bungalows for the retired , starter homes for first time buyers and flats for young people setting out on the housing ladder .We do not need more 3 4 and 5 bedroom market houses to provide homes in the countryside for  middle class people leaving  the industrial towns of the North West for a better life in rural areas.”

Brian Holden a Higher Road resident speaking for the objectors commented,  “We have discovered that part of the land  in  the  application is subject to an agricultural covenant .This could lead to disputes in the courts in the future  rendering the site undeliverable which undermines the purpose of the appeal .This is obviously not a planning Law consideration but it  could effect the availability of this land for development . The residents of Higher Road wish to play their part in the appeal even  even if it is only on a limited basis by renewing their original objections to the inspector,”

Objectors should write to the inspectorate in Bristol and can attend at the start of the appeal and with the inspectors leave speak towards the end of the proceedings . Ward councillors  will call a meeting or hold an advice surgery to  help and advise objectors on the procedure. The closing date for representations is January 4th 2018 .