‘Eyesore’ garage set to be pulled down

2:31pm Friday 22nd February 2008

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AN eyesore' garage is to be demolished and turned into a block of apartments.

Rossendale development control committee went against officers' advice that they should refuse the application for the old Packhorse Garage, Market Street, Edenfield.

The site will now be turned into a block of 10 apartments and a car park.

Steven Hartley, of Hartley Planning and Development Associates Ltd, said: "We have had letters of support.

"One read: We are situated adjacent to the site and we would welcome this as it would be a big improve-ment on the eyesore that lies opposite at present'.

"Richard Nuttall (the applicant) has offered £10,000 to Edenfield Community Centre for main-tenance or an improve-ment scheme and has agreed to do a land contamination survey."

The original plans had been amended so that he building will be closer to Market Street with 11 parking spaces at the rear being accessed through the building.

Coun Anne Cheetham said: "I am delighted by the way the applicant has amended plans for the site, which has been a blight on this particular road as far as I can remember.

"There are people with homes which are too big but they don't want to leave this village - but they could down size to allow room for more families to move in.

"We must improve things in this village with developments like this."

Coun Darryl Smith prepared a statement for the committee which read: "As one of the ward councillors I am very much in support of this application.

"It has generated a lot of interest within the village and has the support of the majority of the residents including the residents' association and immediate neighbours.

"The design of the development offering one bedroom apartment accommodation would bring much needed affordable property to the village."

He expressed major concerns for the site if the plans were rejected, believing it would revert back to an HGV operation or other business, which "would sit uncomfortably with neighbours".