Social club site plan approved
JON MACPHERSON
PLANS to replace a former social club gutted by fire with a plumber’s merchants have been given the green light despite ‘Mickey Mouse’ safety concerns.
Great Harwood Plumbing Merchants have been granted permission to relocate from St Hubert’s Road to a new ‘attractive’ premises at the former club site on Blackburn Road.
Hyndburn council planning officers had urged councillors to refuse the scheme after Lancashire County Council highway’s department raised objections.
They included the close proximity of the club site to a pelican crossing, a lack of parking, concerns over the size of delivery vehicles and a lack of turning space.
However councillors approved the application by ten votes to three on the grounds that the ‘benefit of development outweighed’ county hall’s concerns.
Planning committee chairman Councillor Eamonn Higgins said the objection was ‘a little bit Mickey Mouse and I can’t see why it can’t proceed’.
Architect Peter Hitchin said: “I believe we have done all we can with this site. We have addressed all the key issues.”
Great Harwood councillor Gareth Molineux said the owner had confirmed he would not accept any deliveries from vehicles above 3.5 tonnes and had held discussions with suppliers to make sure this was possible.
Highways bosses also say there would be insufficient car parking provision but members heard staff at the centre would not use any of the six proposed spaces.
Great Harwood county councillor Miles Parkinson said: “Those who know Great Harwood will realise this site has been neglected for many years back to when it was previously a cinema.
“It was the standing joke in Great Harwood that the Grand Club was not a grand place to go.
“We have not got many investors coming forward to develop the site because of viability.
“If this person does not invest, it is unlikely anyone else will step in.
“I strongly believe this needs approving because otherwise the site will be left vacant to the detriment of Great Harwood.”
Coun Dave Parkins, who objected to the scheme, said: “The pelican crossing is right outside the proposed development and highways safety if paramount.
“I’m not against businesses trying to develop but in my opinion this is the wrong place.”