A WAR of words has erupted between two councillors over the closure of a taxi firm operating illegally from a member's premises.

Nelson councillor Judith Robinson has slammed fellow Pendle Council member Jamil Munir after a planning appeal involving a private hire booking office was thrown out.

The firm, Gemms, is run by David Geddes who leases the building, at 29A Hibson Road, Nelson, from Bradley ward councillor Mr Munir.

Retrospective planning permission to run the office was refused by councillors in March and a subsequent appeal was rejected by Pendle Council this week.

Coun Robinson has slammed the behaviour of her council colleague for allowing the firm to set up in his building.

She said: "It is deplorable that an elected councillor who is expected to uphold decisions has decided to profit by allowing an illegal business to operate from his premises."

Fellow councillor Coun George Adam said: "I have always said that such an office should never have been allowed to operate from these premises. Local residents are fed up with the nuisance caused by the taxi firm."

Coun Munir, who was elected to the council in May and has owned the premises for many years, said the taxi firm has nothing to do with him.

He said: "Firstly when I put my property out for rent I wasn't an elected member. Secondly the building's common use was as a taxi office for a long time when the El Tropicano nightclub was in full swing. I later closed my taxi firm and moved to another site.

"Mr Geddes approached about renting the premises and he applied for planning permission in retrospect.

"It is my premises but I have not committed any crime. The onus is on the tenant to apply for any permission that may or may not be required. Who I let to is my business."

The refusal was on the grounds it was likely to result in unreasonable disturbance and noise nuisance to nearby residents due to deliveries and customers at night.

Mr Geddes has now lodged an appeal with the high court.