Campaigners lost one big battle but won a minor skirmish last night at the Borough Council offices.

Four members of the Skem. Veterans Association turned up the monthly planning meeting, with a Council 'jobsworth' telling them their Colours and Union Flag were not allowed in the Council Chamber!

When asked to see the written rule on this the jobsworth returned and said they could bring them in if they removed the spikes.

And later, despite strong representation from Lathom Residents, a very well presented argument from Eddie Pope and the support of the Skelmersdale Veterans, the planning committee voted for the Solar Farm at Lord's Cottage 8-5, - despite one councillor recommending it should be sent for a central government decision due to the 400 objections from local residents.

Over 30 residents attended the meeting and were amazed at the opinion of one councillor that 'people from all over the world will come to West Lancashire to see the technology' and that there would be 'jobs for West Lancashire created'.

Residents will be monitoring the impact on tourism and job creation in the Borough once the project gets under way.

The heritage of the area was ignored and the impact on green belt was dismissed as this is claimed to be a temporary development with the field returned to green belt agricultural land in due course.

Paul Kenyon, chairman of Lathom Park Trust, told QLocal: "My personal view is it is disgusting that no consideration was shown to to history and heritage of Lathom.

"Clearly the decision had been made prior to this meeting," he fumed.

Veterans are ex members of the armed forces who swore an oath of allegiance to the crown and prepared to put their lives at risk for this country! I know where I would have liked to poke the spike to Jobsworth! It’s outrageous!

The Union flag and the Association flag are the people’s flags not this motley crew who sit in comfort in a council chamber and pretend to know what’s best for us and the only thing at risk is if they can claim an allowance or not. Shameful!

A public apologies is the lest that should be offered.

If planning permission is not granted the applicant has the ability to sent it to appeal!

However

If the application is granted objectors have no right of appeal!

How is this natural justice?