PENDLE Council has officially objected to controversial plans to build a new super school on playing fields in Brierfield.

The borough's development control committee sided with its colleagues by refusing to back plans for a 1,050 pupils secondary school on Bent Head playing fields despite council officers saying they should back the scheme.

As part of the £250 million Building Schools for the Future (BSF) scheme Lancashire County Council want to build Marsden Heights College on the land.

The new school would replace Mansfield and Edge End high schools.

Both the Nelson and Brierfield and Reedley area committees objected to the plans so the matter was referred to Pendle's planning committee who also could only object and not refuse the application.

Today a campaigner against the location of the new school today said she was pleased colleagues on the planning committee sided with her.

Reedley and Brierfield Councillor Tonia Barton said: "I am happy the development control committee backed up what both Nelson and Brierfield committees said.

"I would like to think the county council will see the light and listen to what people on the ground are saying.

"Nobody is against the school but people are saying they want it built on the Edge End site."

A final decision will be made by the county council and if approved Pendle will seek a number of alterations regarding access to the new site.