The Rannoch Drive protestors with Stephanie Robinson holding the petition in the centre A NEW group of residents has joined protests against the potential sale of a former school all-weather pitch to a developer. Already householders on Old Gates Drive are opposing disposal of the rare piece of open space in Blackburn. The land sale, part of a proposal for 29 new homes at Lomond Gardens by McDermott Homes, had to be halted by Blackburn with Darwen Council last year because of their opposition. Now residents of the Rannoch Drive estate have joined the battle to prevent any sale of the pitch, used by St Bede’s Roman Catholic High School until 1997, for a new access road to the development.