CONTROVERSIAL plans for a storage yard residents claim would be a blight on their homes have been thrown out for a second time.

Members of Hyndburn Council’s planning committee heard applicants Eagle Plant had not made satisfactory changes from their previous application for land at the back of Kirkham’s Garage is Oswaldtwistle.

Residents of nearby Buttermere drive complained stacking storage containers would mean the development was a visual blight, while there were also fears expressed about the noise the development would generate.

And committee members heeded their calls, narrowly voting through a proposal to reject the application by seven votes to five with one abstention.

Residents' representative Brian Adams told committee members: "The areas to the rear of our properties are as quiet as you will find in Hyndburn.

"We feel this application is the type of development industrial estates were made for.

"This proposal is in the wrong place. It is totally unsuitable for a small residential area."

Applicants Eagle Plant said the site layout had been completely revised, in order to address the impact of both visual and noise amenity.

But members heard the proposed operational hours on site had been extended to from 8am to 6pm Monday-Friday, 9am to 5pm on Saturdays and 9am to 1pm on Sundays and bank holidays.

And members expressed concerns the developers had not done enough to mitigate concerns raised the last time the proposal was rejected.

Cllr Stewart Eaves said: "My worry is there just does not seem to have been enough movement from Eagle Plant to try and make it acceptable.

"At the end of the day, residents have had more than 50 years with that land being clear of any real use."

Members voted to reject planning permission on the grounds that it would have a significant visual impact.