CONTROVERSIAL plans to develop a huge retail park on a 20-acre site off Vivary Way, in Colne, are set to get the green light, despite fierce opposition from environmental groups and residents.

Barnfield Construction, based in Nelson, has submitted outline plans to Pendle Council to create a retail and business park, which would include a DIY store with a garden centre and builders' merchants, two restaurants or takeaways and nine industrial units, on land near to the end of the M65.

But campaigners have slammed the proposals as bad for the area and its residents. Major areas of concern include the fact that the proposed development is on the site of a former landfill which could contain clinical and industrial waste, as well as impacting on businesses in Colne town centre and increase pollution.

Brian Jackson, a Friends of the Earth campaigner, said the scheme was a 'crackpot' idea and riddled with problems.

He said: "This is an insane project and the site is completely unsuitable for this sort of development. A landfill site was last used in the late 1960s and contains domestic waste from more than one million bins, as well as industrial toxic waste.

"If oxygen does not reach the waste products they will rot more slowly and the by-product would be methane.

"If this site is built on and methane is disturbed it could find new routes to nearby houses. Methane will catch fire and if it builds up and there's a spark, it will explode.

A number of mature trees would also be threatened by the proposals, Mr Jackson added.

Spokesman for residents' group the Greenfield Forum, Daniella Weate, said they were not opposed to development in any form, but that it should be balanced. She said: "We have been working with the council to try and find a suitable development that meets everyone's needs, but this proposal could destroy Colne town centre because it will draw away business, it will increase pollution because of the extra cars and it will destroy what is a lovely entrance to the town."

The opposing groups met at a private meeting to discuss the plans, although Mr Jackson said he was refused entry.

Barnfield Construction said they would not be commenting until the plans are discussed by the council committee.

These will be considered by Colne and District Committee on December 12.