PLANS to provide a permanent control room at Accrington Stanley have been approved.

Councillors on Hyndburn’s planning committee unanimously approved the club’s plans to provide a permanent facility for police to oversee match days.

The £20,000 facility which will sit behind the away stand, will replace a portable cabin control room, first installed as a stop gap measure in 2006 and the subject of numerous ‘temporary’ planning permissions.

Coun Marlene Haworth told the meeting: “Just one word on this application - hallelujah. This has been a long time coming.”

The new control room is necessary for the club’s safety certificate and Football League status.