A PLAN for a controversial 21-space caravan park, which had originally been rejected, has been approved following an appeal.

The proposal for the land adjacent to the Petre Arms, Whalley Road, Langho, had been submitted in January 2015 and was refused in September last year.

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The council received 167 letters of objection to the original plan, which featured 147 copies of the same letter.

The appeal was made by Jack Lowther who sent in the original plan to Ribble Valley Borough Council.

The first report was rejected by councillors on the grounds of traffic levels, noise and the economic impact of the site.

However the appeal, carried out by inspector Daniel Hartley, ruled that planning permission should be granted.

Planning inspector Daniel Hartley said: “The proposal would not have a significantly harmful effect upon the living conditions of the occupiers of nearby properties or the character or appearance of the area and would not lead to any severe highway safety impacts.”

One of the major concerns with the plan was the issue of road safety but Mr Hartley said that there were no problems.

He said: “The County Highways Authority has raised no objection to this proposal based on the amended plan which straightens the access into the site.

“I have not been provided with any compelling evidence which would persuade me that the findings of the County Highways Authority are unsound.”

Cllr Alison Brown of the Langho Ward said: “It was fairly split with the original call, some people thought it was needed but quite a few thought it wasn’t as there are other caravan parks elsewhere.”

“Across the roads was the main concern with the work as it is fairly tight, but the traffic high people are obviously happy with it.”