A LONG-RUNNING row over plans for a business park in Guide has re-ignited, after planning permission granted after a Government inspector's inquiry expired.

The controversial proposals for a mixed-use site between Haslingden Road and the two reservoirs will go before Blackburn with Darwen Council's planning committee this week and officers have recommended the scheme for approval.

The Save Guide Village campaign has written to the council asking it to be 'brave enough' to reject the plans and 21 residents have also put pen to paper to object.

Outline permission for the mixed-use development, which could be made up of industrial units, warehouses, restaurants, a hotel and a sports centre, was granted by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in March 2000, following a planning inquiry, but expired in March this year.

Now, Arrowcroft Northwest Ltd, the development partner of landowners United Utilities, has asked the council to renew their consent to develop the open grazing land. The outline application does not include specific details of how the site would eventually look, which would require planning permission at a later date, but states what sort of development could be allowed and how the site would be accessed.

The Save Guide Village Committee has told the council there is no need for the proposals, as similar sites are already being built at junction four of the M65.

They said the objections they had three years ago, surrounding traffic problems, the threat to wildlife, the loss of an area of outstanding beauty and the lack of demand for the site, were still valid.

One Blackamoor Road resident wrote to the council stating they had a "marvellous opportunity to have second thoughts about the development of this small oasis of green space."

Councillors will meet to discuss the plans on Thursday at 7pm.