A LOCAL authority has issued an emergency tree preservation order on the outskirts of one of the borough s main towns. Pendle Council acted after residents saw a housing developer making ground investigations near the the woodland at The Lenches in Colne. The order protects the coppice for 28 days while officials investigate. It was brought in after worried locals attended at meeting of borough s Colne and District Area Committee last week. The highly-visible trees are on land above the South Valley area of the town on which developers Gleeson Homes are preparing a planning application to build new houses. The residents acted after discovering workers digging up the field and drilling holes and obtaining masterplan for the new homes.