CAMPAIGNERS fighting for a secondary school have spoken of their disappointment that the county council is now looking at a fresh site.

Lancashire is to look further into Burnley Council's proposal to site the new Hameldon College in Melrose Avenue, rather than off Rossendale Road.

Burnley opposes county plans to build the new community college on greenfield land off Rossendale Road because they claim traffic levels would be unsafe and the development would damage the area.

But the location is supported by the group Campaign for a Local Secondary School.

The new school building is part of the £250 million Building Schools for the Future Programme Lanc-ashire County Council.

If Burnley continue to oppose the Rossendale Road site, the school's fate will be decided by the government at a public inquiry.

Burnley leader Gordon Birtwistle said: "The Melrose Avenue site is Burnley Council's preferred option.

"We are working closely in partnership with the county council and Calico housing association to make it a viable option, for the good of the community, the future of our children and for the benefit of the borough as a whole. Officers from Burnley Council, Lancashire County Council and Callico Housing Association will also be working closely with local residents to explain more about the proposed scheme, answer any questions they will have and involve them in the decision-making process."

Chris Keen, spokesman for Campaign for a Local Secondary School, said their preferred site would be the Rossendale Road.

He said: "We've been campaigning in support of the county council's plans to use a site on Rossendale Road for our new school, because we think this is the best available site in the area, although we've been extremely disappointed in the borough council's negative tactics over the past 12 months.

"Our group is still strongly in favour of the Rossendale Road site because no-one will need to be evicted from their homes if our preferred option is followed.

"We feel it's unfair to demolish people's homes to build a home without even speaking to them."