MIDDLETON villagers fear ambitious plans for a £50 million retirement village at the former Pontin's holiday camp could end up as a massive housing estate.

The local parish council claim the company behind the scheme has only drawn up "sketchy" proposals which, if granted by the local authority, could become an ordinary housing estate at a later date.

The plans include detached, three-bedroomed houses and the councillors claim there's nothing definite to suggest the new development will be exclusively for the elderly.

They are also concerned that a petition in support of the retirement village suggests that, if the plans do not get the go ahead, the site could become a refug ee camp or prison.

Parish councillor John Ryan has studied a lengthy environmental statement produced by agents for the site owners, CJ Homes, and claims it has "glaring inadequacies."

"I've been through the environment statement with a fine toothcomb but there's nothing in it that differentiates it from any other major housing development," said Mr Ryan. "There are some pictorial images of ponds and parks but they are just drawings and might not feature anyway. This development might be the best use of this site but we need to know exactly what we're getting. They've made no mention of the number of properties and my concern is that people are being asked to support something that will end up with something else."

CJ Homes this week applied for outline planning permission for the retirement village but they are then expected to pass the site on to a big developer.

Mr Ryan added: "The company have done a lot of public relations work and even taken people up in a helicopter but I think it's just clouding the issue. Their environment assessment doesn't mention what impact the development will have on the village or any emergency evacuation measures. Access in that area is also totally inadequate. I hope Lancaster City Council ensures that we actually get what we're being told we're getting."

Despite repeated requests for a comment from the Manchester-based agents, Development Planning Partnership, they had not responded by the time we went to press.