WORRIED residents have called a public meeting as their fight against a care home for problem teenagers continues.

At least 50 people living close to the Hollies, in Rising Bridge Road, Haslingden, have united to oppose the opening of a facility for girls aged 11 to 18 with “challenging behaviour”.

And they are being backed by three Rossendale councillors who say residents have not been consulted properly by Blackpool-based Northern Care, which will run the home.

Worsley ward councillors David Stansfield and Joyce Thorne, along with Coun Peter Evans, are all expected at Thursday’s meeting, held at a primary school just yards from the proposed facility.

Coun Stansfield said: “I support the residents wholeheartedly.

“It is not a case of politics, it is a case of I am their representative and they don’t want this care home there so I am standing up for these people.

“It is a case of opinions but these people are entitled to theirs.”

Last month, Northern Care’s chief executive tried to appease residents living close to the proposed care home by promising them a special ‘open day’ before the it opens next month.

But that has not stopped them forming the Rising Bridge and Hud Hey Residents’ Association and some have put up protest signs.

Coun Stansfield added: “Northern Care should have laid their cards on the table but they have done nothing at all.

“The only time we have had communications with them is when I rang up and I spoke to no-one of any importance.

“If they had come clean in the first place I think residents would have sat down with them.”

Northern Care has said all its care homes are regulated by Government watchdog Ofsted and it wants to be “good members of the community” in Haslingden.

The meeting is at Stonefold Primary School, Rising Bridge Road, at 7.30pm on Thursday.