A BUSINESS owner wants to turn a solicitors office into a physiotherapy clinic in a town centre despite parking concerns.

Andrew Byrne, who lives in Manchester, has submitted an application to Ribble Valley Council to convert an Houldsworth Solicitors on King Street, Whalley, into a healing clinic.

The proposal will mean changing the use of the Tudorbethan building, which was first built in the 20th century, into a clinic used to treat disease or injury by physical methods such as exercise, massage and heat treatment rather than drugs or surgery.

If the proposal is accepted, the new clinic, which would include a treatment room, reception and kitchen, will open from Monday to Friday between 8am to 8pm and Saturdays from 8am to 12pm.

In the planning statement the applicant has highlighted a potential issue of parking near the site.

There is currently only one existing car parking space at the rear of the property, with no extra car parking spaces proposed.

Customers will instead have to park on the street outside the property.

On the issue of parking, the applicant said in the planning statement: "We feel the impact of the proposed business will be similar to that of the previous tenants who were solicitors and neighbouring dentists.

"A public car park is situated behind the Swan Hotel and adjacent to the Whalley Arms, which is approximately 100 yards away.

"There is also a bus stop immediately outside the property and a railway station sited approximately 800 yards away."

In response to the application and the issue of parking, a highways spokesman for Lancashire County Council said they would not raise any objections on highway grounds.

The spokesman said: "The property is regarded as a town centre location and therefore we would be looking for the customers to utilise the on street parking.

"It should be noted that new parking restrictions are due to be implemented in the town centre.

"This should make more suitable bays available as these changes will force a turnover of daytime parking.

"There are also plans to make the northern section of King Street wider and this measure should also ease the parking in the area."