A proposed development site in Samlesbury yesterday saw local farmers drive their tractors around the area to protest an application for 1,300 new homes.

On 6 July, Samlesbury farmers drove the tractors around a site near junction 31 of the M6 to raise awareness and funds to fight a Story Homes planning application that the Save Samlesbury Action Group said will destroy over 400 acres of greenbelt land in its first phase.

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The group have urged residents to attend a public meeting on Friday, 8 July, to discuss the next steps.

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They invited interested parties encouraged to attend Church House Farm, Potters Lane, Samlesbury, PR5 0UE, at 7pm, with Nigel Evans, MP for Ribble Valley, and local councillors in attendance to hear public views and answer questions.

Residents must lodge objections by 19 July.

The group said the development could result in displacement and loss of jobs and homes for tenant farmers, impact wildlife and biodiversity and worsen traffic on ‘already strained’ country lanes and local roads.

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After the February proposal, which the group said was ‘in the absence of an objective and open consultation by the developer’, residents called a referendum under the Local Government Act 1972.

It resulted in a 50 per cent turnout and a 98 per cent vote in opposition of the development during the Easter Holidays, with no proxy votes available.

The Save Samlesbury Action Group said a majority of 98 per cent ‘spoke loudly of the local feeling’, with the parish boundary meaning many of the houses closest to the site were excluded from the vote, ‘much to their frustration’.

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The group said the result was an ‘irrefutable and democratic display of the local feeling’ from those living next to the site and the housing clusters not in view of the development area.

But they said the developers ‘have chosen to ignore the message’ and will press ahead with the application.

Residents from any location can lodge objections to the application by emailing cuerdale@southribble.gov.uk, referencing 07/2022/00451/OUT and including their concerns.

To donate, visit – https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-samlesbury-greenbelt

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