ULVERSTON Town Council has offered to stand in solidarity with a neighbouring village threatened by the spectre of development.

At a council meeting, a proposal was tabled by north ward Councillor Colin Pickthall to support the neighbouring village of Lindal.

The construction of a concrete batching plant on land adjacent to the A590 - near the notorious "Lindal Dip" - has been condemned by residents and their council.

The proposal would see a plant, with two 12m tall silos built on Ore Mill Sidings.

Speaking at meeting on October 17, Cllr Pickthall said: "This is an offer of solidarity with a neighbour who is having a tough time with this proposal.

"Nobody wants this sort of proposal next to them.

"It has an obvious impact on the A590, we've said before the A590 is at its capacity."

The move to build a concrete plant at Lindal was prompted by the plans to built more than 1,000 homes in Ulverston.

The site has been chosen due to its closeness to Ulverston, the nearest concrete works being in Barrow and Kendal.

Residents have protested over the noise, disruption and danger posed by large vehicles entering and exiting the site.

Cllr Pickthall said: "There would be heavy vehicles travelling to the new estates, it is crackers."

Leslie Hine, an opponent to the concrete plant who lives in Pennington Lane, said: "It's not a safe place to have such a building. You've only got to see the amount of traffic on this road. Traffic will back down to Ulverston with a set of lights.

"I think South Lakeland District Council has done the wrong thing by allowing it to get this far."

Another resident, Sarah Braithwaite - one of the chief organisers of the protest against the site - was happy the campaign against the plant was growing.

She said: "It's great news that it's not just us that are against it, it seems to be everybody.

"It's brilliant that more people are getting behind us. The more support, the better.

"I'm not surprised, it doesn't just affect us, but everyone that is going to drive through."

Lindal and Marton parish councillor Bob Lord echoed this sentiment.

He said: "I'm very pleased to hear Ulverston have backed us.

"The whole village is up in arms about it. It will destroy the rural nature of the village."

Cllr Lord highlighted not just the negative impact the development will have on the countryside, but also the effect it will have on the road passing through the village.

He said: "The most important aspect is the danger on the A590.

"The parish council vetoed it vehemently and there is a ongoing association that have knitted together to fight it.

"We are all anxiously waiting to hear what South Lakeland District Council planning authority is going to do."