PLANS to set up a car wash business in Earby have been dismissed on appeal.

Imran Ali appealed to the government's planning inspectorate after his scheme to change the use of a car park to the west of 28 Skipton Road to a hand car wash and valet was refused permission by Pendle Borough Council.

The application, made in June last year, also included associated parking, the siting of an office cabin and canopy, and also the erection of a mesh security fence and two sets of sliding gates.

Pendle Council refused the application in October last year, and that decision has now been upheld by a government planning inspector following a visit to the site in June.

In his decision notice, the inspector, Paul Martinson, said main considerations were the effect of the development on the Earby Conservation Area and on highway safety.

He concluded there would be 'unacceptable impact' on highway safety with vehicles accessing the site off the busy Skipton Road, and also being forced to wait on the road because of limited space on the site itself.

It would also be an 'incongruous form of development' at odds with the 'prevailing character' of the area.