PETITIONERS have lost their fight to stop a vehicle maintenance depot and MOT station being built near their homes.

Hyndburn councillors had last month approved an application to convert a warehouse and yard in Library street, Church, provided no complaints were received.

But last night the proposal was again considered after a 15-name petition was received from residents.

They said the site would be an easy target for vandals and burglars, and a hazard for children from a nearby play area and people visiting the library.

They also claimed access to the site was inadequate for the volume of traffic and complained of the potential noise and diesel fumes.

But councillors were told part of the site was already being used for the assembly of kitchen units and the servicing of company vehicles.

These fell within the same general industrial use as the application.

Councillors gave the go-ahead for the director of development services to approve the plans, provided certain conditions were met.

These included providing satisfactory car parking, access gates being widened and all repair and servicing of vehicles to take place within the buildings and not in the open yard areas.

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