FIVE self-contained flats are to be created in a former nursing home in Wilpshire, following approval from Ribble Valley Borough Council's planning committee.

Councillors gave the go-ahead for the building at 20 Ribchester Road, to be converted and for the front access at Ribchester Road to be closed.

Vehicles using the development will have to use The Hawthorns in order to maintain highway safety.

Several letters of objection had been received from residents living nearby who were mainly concerned about additional traffic and possible parking problems along The Hawthorns.

But councillors were assured that the county surveyor was happy with the highways issue now the Ribchester Road access was to be closed.

It was also noted that the conversion would not affect nearby residents in that additional roof lights would not cause loss of amenity, and the proposed balconies to the front wall had been deleted from the scheme.

A large window to the side wall had also been deleted from the plans.

Conditions attached to approval include the use of materials to be appropriate to the locality.