OUTLINE plans for a housing development on the current Sagar Fold garage site, in Colne, could be given the green light on Thursday despite overwhelming opposition from people who live nearby.

An outline application was deferred at the March 2001 Colne and District Area Committee so that the applicants, the Borough of Pendle, could be asked to provide nearby off-street parking for local residents who use the land.

Lancashire County Council environment directorate for highways originally dismissed the application until suitable replacement parking was provided.

The applicant has since submitted a report which states that the site has 30 garages and of the 23 garages not being used for storage, almost half were in poor condition.

In a report to the next meeting of the Colne and District Committee, the environment directorate said: "It appears that the site is not particularly popular with vehicle owners and that the garages are not being maintained very well. In these circumstanes I would not pursue the request for a replacement garage site.

"I would however like to limit the size of the site due to the limited visibility from the access and would repeat my request that the number of houses on the site be limited to six only."

Nine letters of objection and a petition containing 143 signatures against the plans were handed to the council by neighbours.

They complained on the grounds that the existing streets in the area could not accommodate any more on-street parking, there would be more traffic congestion with vehicles turning in to Keighley Road, the garage site provides an essential service to local residents and that on-road parking would lead to increased vandalism.

Planning officers have recommended the outline proposals for approval with the conditions that the development is limited to six houses and further details are approved by the council before any work begins.