Residents have written to their MP to voice concerns about a building site, as heavy rain caused unprecedented levels of water to drain off and flood certain areas.

Pendle Borough Council were informed of the problems at the McDermott building site on the Lower Rough in Colne, which added to the catalogue of problems already besetting the controversy laden project.

This includes issues about the possible planning condition and general planning breaches.

However, as the planning department and council have seemingly been slow to act, some residents have now contacted MP for Pendle, Andrew Stephenson to raise their concerns with him.

Mr Stephenson has now called on the council to closely monitor the new houses being built off Windermere Avenue after previously writing directly to the developer, McDermott Homes, raising concerns about possible breaches of the planning conditions.

The response he received was disingenuous with regard to legally parked residents’ cars being winched out of the way and livestock still not being removed from the construction area.

No culpability was admitted on behalf of the sub-contractors being employed, but a lack of adherence to good practice was acknowledged.

The letter from McDermott concluded by outlining the benefits to the area of this £15 million development, especially how it will provide 'much needed quality housing to local families and the wider community'.

Mr Stephenson MP said: "A huge amount of work was put in by councillors and planning officers to ensure the planning conditions were strong enough to ensure the development would have minimum impact on residents and that this would be an architecturally sympathetic development in a site that is partly inside the Lidgett and Bents Conservation Area and abuts the East Colne Way.

"However, the early operation of this development hasn’t gone well, so it’s now imperative that Pendle Council proactively monitor and enforce the necessary planning conditions.

"The recent increase in clay-laden water run-off is a grave worry to existing residents."

Councillor David Cockburn-Price said: "With water run-off worse than has been seen before, we are determined to keep a very close eye on the operation of this development and have sought repeatedly to be involved in both the discharge of the planning conditions and other decision-making that affects our area.

"Sadly, engagement by McDermott has been sporadic at best.

"The excess clay is blocking people’s drains and could be potentially damaging their houses, whilst the excess run-off risks spreading the Japanese Knotweed that still hasn’t been eradicated."

McDermott Homes were contacted for comment but did not respond.