A COMPUTER firm is poised to breathe new life into the former Accrington Grammar School.

Planning councillors approved the change of use of the empty Blackburn Road building for the manufacture and assembly of computer equipment.

Councillor Ken Curtis welcomed the redundant building being brought back into use.

He told the development services committee: "Vandalism soon takes place on such a large building as this and I have been frightened what was going to happen to it."

Manchester-based Unique Computer Systems is involved in assembling computers by hand from pre-manufactured components.

Accrington Civic Trust and the local post office have welcomed the proposal, but there were two letters of objection from neighbouring properties.

Their concerns included noise, parking problems and poor access to the car park off Hartmann Street.

As no power tools or industrial machinery are involved there should be little or no noise, councillors were told.

The existing yard area at the back of the building will be the loading and parking area, with the operation mainly using smaller delivery vehicles.

Access to the site will be via Lister Street, and the vehicle accesses from Blackburn Road and Hartmann Street will be permanently closed to traffic.

The former boys' grammar school moved to a modern building in 1968 and later became part of Moorhead High.

The old building was then used by Accrington and Rossendale College until last year.

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