West Craven Area Committee declares land surplus to requirements (From Craven Herald)

West Craven Area Committee declares land surplus to requirements

7:00am Friday 18th January 2013 in News

Concerns: Coun Ken Hartley

A small strip of land off Valley Road in Barnoldswick has been declared surplus to requirements.

The move could pave the way for the building of 72 affordable homes.

Despite members of Pendle’s West Craven Area Committee rejecting a similar proposal two months ago, new discussions with Conurbia Limited could lead to the land being sold off.

Conurbia, which owns the adjacent 170-space Silentnight car park, had wanted the small embankment as an access for the new development by Cornell Group.

But even though councillors declared the land surplus to requirements, they were concerned about what would happen to the Silentnight car park and the nearby Ethel Street allotments.

“I’d like to keep that car park and would be opposed to 200 cars being dumped onto the streets,” said Coun David Whipp, chairman of the West Craven Area Committee.

Coun Ken Hartley added: “I have concerns about the allotments at Ethel Street. They are very well-kept and I’d hate to see them lost at some future date.”