A £7million sixth-form centre at an Accrington school has been approved.

Hyndburn Planning Committee agreed to give the green light to the 270-pupil centre at St Christopher’s C of E High School following a heated debate about traffic issues and its location in Queen’s Road West.

Residents and councillors, both on and off the committee, argued that the sixth form centre should be built at the back of the site where the new tennis courts are proposed rather than the front as laid out in the plans.

They also criticised a traffic survey which had said the sixth form would not have an impact.

The committee was urged by chair Coun John Griffiths to look only at the application, not the alternative sites as suggested by residents and Coun Clare Pritchard.

And as a result the three-storey 2,836 square-metre sixth form centre, which includes an additional 17 car parking spaces and cycle stands, was approved.

One resident said: “I’m not against St Christopher’s having a sixth form.

“We know the traffic will be a problem but the building should go to the back of the site.”

Another said: “I feel so strongly I have come to this meeting. I am one of the nearest to the building.

“It will overshadow my home.

“Most of the main bedrooms are at the front and pupils can look straight into the houses.”

Coun Clare Pritchard said: “I am not against the sixth form.

“I welcome it but I’m against the lack of neighbourhood amenities for residents”

Architects for St Christopher’s CofE High School said the building must be constructed at the front to maintain the open space at the back of the school in line with Hyndburn’s planning policy and explained that classrooms would not face homes.

Coun Marlene Haworth said: “This is like a Mr Spock situation: the needs of the many should outweigh the needs of the few.

“We have to look to the future and not the present.

“I agree with this application and I support it.”

After the meeting Alistair Coates, headteacher, said: “We are pleased that the committee has supported this application we think this is going to raise aspirations in Hyndburn and give people what they deserve.”