A PLANNED caravan site in the middle of residential houses in Bacup looks certain to cause a storm of protest.

Irwell Ward councillor Lorraine Hammond, who lives near the application site of Peel Drive and Douglas Road, said she had already been approached by a number of local residents, concerned about the plans.

The site is owned by a Wolverhampton-based businessman who last year had two similar applications for a caravan park on the site turned down.

The latest application is for change of use of the vacant land into a privately-owned and operated gypsy caravan site to accommodate 30 travelling families. It is also planned to build 15 amenity blocks for the residents.

Last year the applications were turned down because they were contrary to national planning policy, the local district plan, would be harmful to the housing market in the area and have an adverse impact on the visual amenity and locality.

Coun Hammond said: I have been inundated with objections from people deeply concerned about the application.

"I would say that nothing has changed in the area since the last applications were refused, apart from more residential development of Peel Drive, moving houses even nearer to the proposed caravan site.

"The reasons for turning down the plans last time are still the same and this time the application states it is for use by gypsies, which is what the residents were concerned about in the first place."

Jean Pender, who lives on nearby Castleton Drive, said: "This is a very windy area and if any rubbish was left on the site it would be blown all over the estates. We are trying to improve our area of Bacup.

"I am concerned that this application could have a detrimental effect on the area."

Coun Hammond said she had contacted the planning department and was hoping that notices about the application would this week be distributed throughout the area.

She added: "This is a residential area and I don't think the location is right for its proposed use."