THE spectre of a cement works coming back to life has re-awakened campaigners determined to keep it closed.

The works, at the top of Knotts Lane, Colne, is owned by Tarmac. The firm's parent company, Tarmac Quarry Products has filed a planning application with Pendle Council.

Protesters went into action as soon as they found out about the firm's intentions.

They vow they will fight tooth and nail to stop what they say will turn the area into a living nightmare.

Eric Cummins, of Knotts Lane said: "No-one in their right mind will allow this to happen.

"The prospect of having huge cement wagons grinding up to the top of the hill and belting down again with a heavy cargo of wet cement does not bear thinking about.

"There are a lot of children and elderly people. It is no place for heavy industry.

"If Tarmac are serious about having a production plant in Pendle they should go onto one of the industrial estates. We will fight them every inch of way."

People living in the area formed an action committee in March 1994 when Tarmac Topmix said it wanted to replace an existing batching plant, using planning permission granted by Colne Council in 1966.

At the time, the firm said wagons and trucks would make around 50 journeys along Knotts Lane every day.

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