CONTROVERSIAL plans to turn a former pub into a takeaway have been given the green light despite protests.

A petition containing 190 signatures and 15 objection letters were submitted against the plans to turn the former Cross Guns pub in Church into a takeaway.

However the plans by Haji’s Cuisine were passed by Hyndburn Council planning committee eight votes to four.

Cllr Eamonn Higgins, chairman f the planning committee, said after the meeting: “Despite some objections from local residents, it was previously used as a public house so it was serving food and drink until late then.

“It is a grade two listed building and it would be better that the building was put to some use.

“We don’t want it falling into a state of disrepute when it could start falling apart, or even be the target of people looking to start a fire in it.”

The public house shut in 2014 after serving the area ‘for more than 50 years’ and the site has remained vacant since.

Reasons for objecting the application included the ‘smell, noise and litter’ that would come from the takeaway and worries it would attract anti-social behaviour late at night.

Petitioners said there was already an ‘abundance of hot food takeaways in the area’ and were wary the sites close proximity to a recycling centre could attract vermin.

There were also concerns the street would face traffic issues and residents would face parking difficulties.

Gary Britland, of York Street, Church, said: “The area does not need another takeaway as we have one 50 yards away.

“It will be next to the recycling centre and would increase and attract vermin.

“This is a residential area and the increase in traffic noise would be an issue.”

The Hyndburn Council conservation officer also objected to the proposal stating that The Cross Guns is ‘an attractive local listed building of considerable quality that sits in an attractive street within a conservation area.’

Lancashire County Council highway authority said the proposed development will only have a minimal impact on the highway network and as such raised no objection to the application.

When plans were submitted a spokesman for Younus Khan Architectural Consultant, the agent for the project, said it will be a hot food takeaway, featuring food such as pizza and kebabs.

Council planning officers noted the proposed development would have an impact on the setting of the Church Canalside Conservation Area.

However they said the building has been vacant for a number of years with ‘no apparent prospect of an alternative use forthcoming’.