RESIDENTS in Poulton have been given an unprecedented chance to win back green-belt land lost to housing developers -- according to MP Hilton Dawson.

The MP for Lancaster and Wyre described the situation as 'joyous' when he met with Poulton residents to explain how new Government guidelines could save land already earmarked for the construction of 650 homes.

And he is calling on the residents of Poulton to speak out and save their land.

The land, measuring 23 hectares, or 46 football pitches, runs alongside Garstang Road, and was made part of Wyre Borough Council's housing plan after extensive public consultation.

But new Government guidelines mean councils are to cut back on greenfield housing and the council is considering taking the land out of the housing plan.

"People think this issue is dead because it has already been through a public consultation and inspectors' reports and it was decided that housing would be placed here. In planning terms that is as emphatic as you can get," said Mr Dawson. "But now the Government has changed the rules, thank goodness, and we can save this land." Mr Dawson had arranged to meet with Mr Andrew Davidson, 54, an independent financial advisor who lives on Garstang Road, after Mr Davidson had contacted him with residents' concerns.

Mr Davidson explained his concern was not just for the effect the developments would have on the look of Poulton, but also the impact on the environment.

"There are suitable sites that have been used once and could be used again, instead of digging up virgin fields," he said.

Retired doctor John Boardman, also from Garstang Road, expressed his concern about losing valuable areas of green land.

"There are houses built in the green belt joining Poulton to Blackpool," he said

"Bit by bit it just keeps getting sliced away."

But Hilton Dawson said: "It is a very lucrative business for those who sell the land and those who develop it, so I can speculate that they are not very happy when Wyre proposes to take this out of the housing plan," he said.

"But as long as the people of Poulton make their voices heard now and the council stick to what they are proposing, I think this time the people will win." To take part in the public consultation contact Wyre council and ask for a copy of the Housing and Employment Land Consultation by September 15.