COUNCILLORS have demanded to know accident figures for a road running outside a controversial proposed nursery in Hapton.

Villagers have been unhappy over plans to convert the former Bridge Inn into a nursery - insisting it is an ‘accident waiting to happen’, positioned as it is near a hump-backed bridge in Manchester Road.

But highways officials from Lancashire County Council gave the scheme a clean bill of health, leaving members of Burnley Council’s development control committee furious.

Ward councillor Jonathan Barker said: “Residents feel that with such a dangerous section of road that this would be an accident waiting to happen.”

Coun Andy Tatchell said: “Personally I think this beggars belief. If you were trying to find the top three locations in the borough not to put a nursery then this would be on it.

Coun Jeff Sumner added: “That bridge is dangerous. People speed over it all the time from both directions.”

Planning agent Alan Kinder said several revisions had been made after similar proposals were rejected by the same committee just over a month ago.

The proposed car park, on landscaping off Manchester Road, had been moved 43 metres to 51 metres from the bridge, councillors heard.

And 10 out of the 11 trees there would be preserved said Mr Kinder, who also confirmed that the ‘Welcome to Hapton’ stone would be relocated as part of the works.

But councillors remained concerned about problems with parents rejecting the car park and leaving cars in nearby River Street instead.

Proposing the plans be deferred, Coun Cosima Towneley said accident figures for Manchester Road, 100 metres before and after the bridge, should be provided by the county council, before a final decision was reached.

Councillors agreed to ask the county council for the information and convene a special meeting to then consider the Bridge Inn package.