Up to 290 campaigners have signed an online petition opposing a 250-home development.

The Observer revealed last week how Reilly Developments Ltd had submitted plans to Hyndburn council for the scheme at Lyndon House playing fields in Great Harwood - currently used by Great Harwood Rovers Football Club.

A meeting by the Lyndon House Association (LHA) campaign group was held at Churchfield House last week to fight the proposals which include a mixture of housing and up to 50 affordable homes.

The plans would also see land to the north of Harwood Lane developed and the football club relocated to the site. Four FA standard football pitches and changing facilities would be created.

The ‘Great Harwood Save Our Field’ online petition launched on Monday, claiming it would be ‘overdevelopment’ of the Lyndon playing fields and other nearby schemes are ‘unsold or struggling to sell’. It also claimed the homes would add up to 1,000 extra residents and put a ‘huge strain on our community and overcrowding on our historic market town.’

Pauline Embley, chairperson of the campaign group, said letters of objection ‘are rolling in like there’s no tomorrow’ and they have also requested the plans be exhibited at the town library for elderly residents to view.

Fellow campaigner Patrick McGinley said they have ‘major concerns’ about the impact on local services, including doctors, schools, police and roads and said the residents of nearby Lyndon House ‘should be able to enjoy their twilight years without noisy building, dust and blocked views’.

He also claimed the development would affect local house prices and said it would add to ‘unbearable’ traffic levels.

Andy Counsell, of the football club, said they would not be moving onto their new site until the new pitches are built.

He said: “The one thing I want to stress about the facilities is that they will be for the whole town and not just the football club.

“It is really a replica of Lyndon House and public pedestrian access will be unlimited. It is moving 150 yards down the road but will improve a million times on its way. I would like it to be named as the Great Harwood Community Sports Field.

“We are the managers or custodians of it but schools and groups will be able to use it and children can have a kick-about.”

A spokesperson for PWA Planning, who are acting on behalf of Reilly Developments, said they were working with the co-operation of Hyndburn Borough Council as one of the main landowners.

She said: "The full element of the application will see the delivery of new and improved high quality sporting facilities for Great Harwood Rovers Football Club and indeed the wider community.

"The outline element of the application proposals will enable the delivery of up to 250 much needed new homes at land to the south of Harwood Lane, along with improvements to the connectivity through the site for pedestrians and cyclists, an extension to the existing children play area and various landscaping measures resulting in an overall enhancement to the local character and distinctiveness of the site and in particular removing the dereliction which affects parts of the site.

"The submission of this hybrid planning application follows extensive pre-application consultation with the local community and Hyndburn Borough Council planning department, and is supported by a comprehensive package of technical information.

"The concerns expressed by local residents will be fully considered as part of the application process, along with any mitigation measures which may be necessary.