CHURCH leaders were slammed for not being "honest and truthful" when plans for a new parish hall in Oswaldtwistle were discussed by Hyndburn councillors.

Previous promises by Immanuel Parish Church to provide benefits to the local community had been broken, according to letters from residents near the site in New Lane.

Representatives have never approached the council to discuss making parts of the development open to the public, despite sending a letter saying they would be willing to discuss the matter, the development services committee heard.

New plans to build a new parish hall and eight new houses on land next to Immanuel cricket field were approved by councillors on condition the parish hall is complete before work starts on houses.

Suitable plans to improve recreation areas will have to be submitted before work on the hall could begin.

But Coun Ken Curtis said: "Will they keep to what they say? We have been over and over things with this applicant.

"These are supposed to be honest and truthful people and they are not being honest and truthful. The situation worries me."

An earlier application was approved by Hyndburn Council in April, but the parochial church council was unhappy with clauses requiring it to provide recreational areas with a timetable for public openings.

It also objected to suggestions by councillors that a five-a-side football area should be incorporated.

The new approval does not include the former condition that the church should give the public official access to the land.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.