PLANS for the change of use of a nursing home to a hostel have been deferred because councillors in Burnley do not know what type of people will be accommodated .

Councillors complained they had not been told whether it was intended to house asylum seekers, people with mental health problems, a bail hostel or any other category.

Coun Anne Smith said they wanted to find out who would be going into Burnley House, Westgate. "At the moment we are going into this blind," she told the development control and highways sub-committee.

Coun Pat Bennett agreed: "There are quite a number of hostels in this area and some people are very concerned about it. I have had phone calls from people objecting because we have not said what type of people are going to go in there."

The committee was told the Grade 11 listed building was previously used as a nursing home and most of the changes involved in a change of use to a hostel were unlikely to have an impact on the surrounding area.

The clients and nature of their tenancy would alter but in essence it would remain residential accommodation with shared facilities. Coun Peter Doyle asked: "Are we saying it doesn't matter what type of people use the hostel and that from a planning point of view it makes no difference?"

Planning officer David Ellis replied: "Yes". He added: "There is no other information. The application has been made by an architect on behalf of, he doesn't say."

Coun John Cavanagh said the committee ought to know who was going to use the hostel before they granted permission.

Coun Beryl Barnes asked: "Is it asylum seekers?" Mr Ellis replied: "There is no information to confirm or otherwise."

Coun Carole Galbraith added: "We don't know who is going into it, it could be people with very serious problems We don't even know whether it will be for Burnley people or for people from all over East Lancashire.

"We cannot even start to consider conditions which may be necessary , it is an impossible task."