INCENSED residents have vowed to unite in a bid to defeat a controversial plan to build a waste transfer plant in Huncoat.

Lancashire County Council is due to submit a planning application to transform the former power station site into a multi-million-pound mechanical and biological treatment plant.

The prospect led to scores of residents turning out to voice their opposition to Doreen Pollitt, deputy county council leader, when she attended last week's Huncoat Area Council meeting.

Demanding answers, residents grilled Councillor Pollitt who said she was attending the meeting to "relieve some of the fears and rumours" that had been circulating.

But residents said none of their questions were answered.

Ian McCann, of Peter Grime Row, told Councillor Pollitt, who was heckled throughout the meeting: "There is a feeling that you know more than you are telling, specifically about the background to the application and how the funding will be injected into this."

He asked whether Hyndburn Council had originally offered the site to Lancashire County Council as a way to make money, but did not receive an answer.

Huncoat councillor Dave Parkins pledged to help residents organise opposition to the move, and told them to write objection letters once the planning application was received by Hyndburn Council.

Councillor Brendan Shiel, area council chairman, received rapturous applause for attacking the proposal which, if it comes to fruition, will be built by 2010.

He said: "I feel sad that people outside Huncoat don't know the area has grown to be quite nice.

"Those who live here have real affection for it and I am with the people on this, as I know Councillor Parkins is. We must fight it."

After the meeting Councillor Pollitt, who represents Accrington Central ward, said she supported the application because it could benefit the borough as a whole.

She said: "I am in favour of this plan. We will be meeting Government recycling targets and it will be much better for future generations.

"People in Huncoat are in a difficult situation; they have real traffic problems and their lives will be tricky

"I feel extremely sorry, but at the end of the day we have to think about the wider community of Hyndburn."