Rossendale Borough Council are considering a planning application for the building of 71 houses on land at the rear of Pennine Road / Fieldfare Way / Goldcrest Ave, Bacup.  This application is on land designated as a Greenfield Site and on publicly owned land.  This is an important asset to the local community and a safe play area for our children.

The majority of this site is in public ownership.  This land is well used as a public open space housing a BMX track (for over 25 years in constant use), a safe place for children to play and enjoy the plentiful local wildlife.

Already, we are seeing children within the area not able to gain primary school places in the Bacup area due to the stretched capacity on local services.  Access and traffic issues will significantly add to the risk of pedestrian safety within the local area with the access arrangements planned on a narrow highway close to another T junction on a significant gradient.  Local kids are using this area to camp out on, be active and explore nature.  They deserve a safe open space for them to enjoy.

Our Councillors are in the process of selling the Council owned land here without any public consultation and in meetings closed from public scrutiny and have been for over six months!  These same Councillors will be voting on the planning application with questions around their impartiality with conditionally agreeing the sale. 

If you feel strongly about the issues of safety, local democracy and the planning the sale of public assets by Councillors without consulting the residents, please show your support by objecting to this planning application.

The Planning Application is reference 2019/0214 - link below.  We have until the 28th June 2019 to submit any objections.  Join us and make a difference to your local Irwell ward.  Thank you.

https://publicaccess.rossendale.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=PRTE13NDJOP00

The signing of this petition will allow us to keep this campaign visible, keep you updated with progress and show the strength of feeling in the community to the selling of our public open spaces without consultation.