OPPOSITION councillors have called for Blackburn with Darwen's planning committee to be reformed to end years of "politicisation".

Each planning application should be decided on its own merits - not according to party political philosophies.

But at last week's meeting Labour and Conservative councillors clashed in a major disagreement over a controversial application to convert the Oak Tree pub, Livesey Branch Road, Blackburn, into a Co-op shop.

Dozens of residents and opposition councillors spoke out against the plans, but the votes from the Labour councillors carried the application through.

The committee has eight Labour members, four Tories, and three Liberal Democrats. Now, opposition councillors have demanded the committee be re-designed with an equal number of seats for each party, accusing Labour of using the committee as an arm of the executive.

The Labour party has denied the claims and insisted the committee was not politicised. Coun Colin Rigby, leader of the Conservatives and commit-tee member, questioned whether Coun Andy Kay, executive member for regeneration, should be allowed to sit on the board because of his role in overseeing the renaissance of the town.

He added: "All political groups discuss their stance before the committee.

"Discussion of views is fine, but coming to a consensus is not."

But Coun Kay denied there was any conflict and said his membership of the commi-ttee was required because it was his job to oversee planning. He added: "It's certainly not politicised from our point of view."