A COUPLE'S plans to set up a skip hire business have been scuppered after councillors threw out their application.

Darrel and Andrea Wilson wanted to use a unit in Holme Road, Clayton-le-Moors, to store 50 skips.

They may now appeal against the decision on the grounds that neither Lancashire County Council and Environment Agency lodged any objections to the scheme.

Officers at Hyndburn Borough Council had also recommended members to approve the application but the development services committee felt it would create too many traffic problems on Holme Road, a private thoroughfare.

The authority turned down a similar application in March on the advice of the county council's highway engineer.

But in this time an engineer from the county highways department said he felt the proposal would have "a very limited impact on movements to and from Holme Road."

A report to the committee also revealed that Mr and Mrs Wilson had agreed to a three-year monitoring period to allow the council to see what impact the business had on the surrounding area and said only empty skips would be kept there.

The unit was part of the former Riley's Chemical works and is currently used for storage.

Coun Win Frankland said: "I think the county council has made monkeys out of us. We turned this down on traffic grounds and the problems are still there.

"To move skips there is downright dangerous. If their lorries are doing a right turn, whether empty or full, it's still a big vehicle at what I consider a very dangerous place.

"It's too risky. The type of vehicle is not suitable for that area or for turning from the main road into it. It's the size of vehicles rather than the volume."

Mr Wilson said: "We are very disappointed with the decision made by the planning committee and have been advised to appeal, given that no professional body including the county council and the Environment Agency had any objections."