PLANS to build 14 homes on land behind the Greyhound pub in Barnoldswick have been refused.

Councillors on the West Craven Area Committee turned down a resubmitted outline application by Martin Rawstron to build 14 houses on the land off Manchester Road.

Andrew Morgan, agent for Mr Rawstron, told a meeting of West Craven Area Committee the resubmitted plan is a "design of high quality" and the plans include an "improved junction access on to Manchester Road".

However, Pendle Council's planning and building control manager Neil Watson, recommended councillors refuse the plans because "public benefit does not outweigh the impact the development would have on the conservation area".

Councillors agreed about the impact on the conservation area, but some also said the application should be refused on highway safety grounds.

"Despite the report saying that Highways are happy with the access, I'm not convinced of that," said Cllr Ken Hartley (Lib Dem). "Short of moving or knocking down the Greyhound pub itself you're not going to improve the visibility, and traffic coming down that hill averages 32mph."

"I totally agree this road is very dangerous," said Cllr Jennifer Purcell (Cons). "People don't adhere to the speed limit."

"I don't believe they've done enough to improve highway safety," added Cllr David Whipp (Lib Dem). "Notionally that is a 20mph road, but car speeds are 10 to 15mph higher than the speed limit.

"This development will have a severe impact on highway safety and the conservation area."

But Mr Watson warned councillors if they refused the application on highway safety grounds, then it would be referred to the council's Development Management Committee.

However, the committee's five Conservative members out-voted their four Liberal Democrat colleagues and only refused the plans on the development's impact to the conservation area.