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.
RESIDENTS battling to save a suburban open space are in a furious new row with a council over works on the threatened land. Householders on Old Gates Drive in Blackburn believe the authority is backtracking on its agreement to halt building an access road to a proposed estate of 29 houses at nearby Lomond Gardens. But Blackburn with Darwen Council says the works are nothing to do with the proposal but necessary for essential drainage improvements. The dispute is a rerun of one in October when residents complained about the clearing of vegetation on the site. Tory regeneration spokesman Cllr Paul Marrow has written to the town hall suggesting that the culvert upgrade be halted until a planning application for the development is decided.
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