Residents have hit out at outline plans to build 29 new homes off Long Ing Lane in Barnoldswick.

The plans, submitted by Stirling Investment Properties, call for the construction of four two-bed, 16 three-bed and nine four-bed houses on the greenfield site bordered by houses on Moss Side, Riding Close and Victoria Road.

Several residents attended last Tuesday’s meeting of West Craven Area Committee to voice their opposition.

Resident David Hendley was concerned about the impact the plan – along with the recently approved application for 46 homes at Valley Road – would have on local schools and the doctor’s surgery.

He said the social amenity of residents living nearby would be “impaired”.

Another resident, Mrs Parker, also voiced concerns about the steep access to the site and the impact on traffic using Long Ing Lane.

She said: “The access onto that road is very narrow and turning onto that road will be quite dangerous. I’ve seen accidents happen there.

“There are huge big lorries and Silentnight wagons going down there all the time. If you get more houses it’s going to be so busy on that road.”

Committee chairman Coun David Whipp acknowledged his concerns about the steep access and the number of other access roads in the area. “The existing houses on Moss Side are accessed by unadopted road, and the access next to it is the Silentnight car park,” said Coun Whipp. “It’s a confusing set of junctions and, as there are a lot of movements there already, a further junction at that point would not be ideal.”

Coun Ken Hartley, who parked his car on Long Ing Lane when he went on a site visit, said: “It was absolute hell and I was not happy about being parked there during a Silentnight shift change. It was like Piccadilly Circus.” He also said the gradient was too steep for the proposed access.

Speaking on behalf of the applicant, planning advisor Robert Crowla said: “This development is in a highly sustainable location 300 metres from the town centre, and greenfield sites will need to be put forward to meet Pendle’s housing demand.

“The detailed scheme will have no adverse impact on residential amenity or the surrounding landscape.”

A decision of the outline plans was deferred until June.