PLANS to give a listed building in Church a £300,000 facelift have been met with a wave of opposition.

Elmfield Hall, a Grade II listed building in Gatty Park, is one of 17 across the country to benefit from a £5.5 million boost to help them re-open to the public, or to improve their existing use.

The Lancashire Telegraph reported in February how local social enterprise Community Solutions North West (CSNW) will be given £307,877 to refurbish Elmfield Hall by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

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However, green-fingered Cath Holmes, who is opposed to the move, has helped to gather more than 110 signed letters from people concerned about the plans.

And the former chairman of and founding member of the Church Prospects Panel, Richard Cliffe, also cited his worries.

In a letter of objection published online by the council, he said: “The proposal put forward will see the loss of a polytunnel which was brought back into use in 2005 by the Church Prospects Panel.

“It has provided a free-of-charge, all-weather, education facility for many other groups and organisations.”

Mr Cliffe also described the proposed retail use by CSNW as ‘vague’ and called on the enterprise to provide more detail.

He said the council’s workshop and storage area will be transformed into a first floor training room, sparking concerns over the cost of relocation to the taxpayer, and voiced his worries about an increase in traffic and anti-social behaviour.

Director of CSNW, Ian Scholes, said: “There have been many misconceptions in relation to the plans and consultation.”

The council’s parks and leisure boss, Cllr Ken Moss, who attended the meeting, said: “The polytunnel in question was completely erased on the planning application.

“It has all been discussed around the table and it will now stay.”

Cath, who is the chair of Incredible Edibles Accrington, also attended and said she left the meeting feeling unsure about the polytunnel’s future, although she did praise CSNW for their work at the building.

The planning application will now go before a council planning committee, although Cllr Moss said amendments were expected to be filed prior to any decision-making meeting.