Residents fear new homes plan will displace wildlife

A proposed housing development on green space will be "devastating" for wildlife, residents have said.

An outline application for up to 99 homes, including open space, landscaping and infrastructure, has been submitted by Blackpool Council to Wyre Council as part of its wider masterplan.

However, residents argue the area is already being overdeveloped.

There have been more than 800 objections to the development on the edge of Carleton, including concerns about its impact on wildlife.

Catherine Carter, one of the campaigners opposed to the plans, said the area has seen two large developments recently and "enough is enough".

She said the latest proposal would displace animals from their habitat.

Residents have been saddened by the death of a deer after it wandered onto Blackpool Road and was hit by a car on Monday.

For some people, the herd of deer has come to represent the fight to protect the farmland from nearly 100 homes proposed for the site off Blackpool Road.

Carter told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "We are all deeply upset about this.

"I hope Wyre Council and Blackpool Council now have enough evidence to realise exactly why there are more than 800 objections to the online application to build on a very small green space which is inhabited already by wildlife."

Lynne Kennedy, who lives close to the proposed site, said: "There are many reasons people are opposed to these plans. Carleton and Poulton are being overdeveloped - we just don't have the infrastructure for another 100 homes."

Another resident, Linn Gray, said the land was a "vital green space" which the village needs.

Hundreds of new houses have already been built nearby and residents say there is insufficient infrastructure to cope with further development, including pressure on traffic, schools, GP provision and access to dentists.

The site is located off The Lane, bounded by Blackpool Road and Blackpool Old Road, to the east of Carleton Crematorium.

A planning statement in support of the application says: "The scale of development proposed is in keeping with the scale and function of Poulton-le-Fylde as one of the main towns in the district and there is also no reason why a high-quality design could not be secured in line with relevant development plan policy.

"Ultimately, when the economic, social and environmental impacts are considered together, the proposals comprise sustainable development and there are no impacts which outweigh the aforementioned benefits.

"Moreover, the application complies with the relevant policies of the adopted Local Plan and as such, outline permission ought to be granted."

Blackpool Council and Wyre Council have yet to comment.

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