EDUCATION chiefs have taken another step towards building the first "super schools" in Burnley and Pendle.

Lancashire County Council has applied to itself for planning permission to build two of the new schools in the £250million revamp of secondary education.

The authority has submitted outline applications for the proposed schools off Rossendale Road, and on Towneley playing fields - the two most controversial of the planned buildings.

A county council spokesman said: "The planning applications have been submitted and public consultation is expected to take place next week."

The plans could go before a council committee by the end of January, he added.

The plans would see a 1,050-place school, to be known as Hameldon Community College, built on land off Rossendale Road to replace Ivy Bank and Habergham; and a 1,050-place school and city learning centre built to take over from Towneley High School. That new school would be known as Unity College.

The plans also include the demolition of the existing Towneley School, and restoration of the site to parkland.

A campaign to try and halt the building on land at Towneley has been launched by Fulledge Action Community Together group and Towneley for the People. The groups are calling for a public inquiry into the plans which, they say, threaten the parkland.

Last month planning officers raised a number of concerns about the scheme, which involves scrapping 11 high schools and replacing them with seven new ones and a sixth form centre.

Problems included traffic and safety concerns at Hameldon Community College; and flood risk, sports provision, and access arrangements at Unity College.