A PLAN to construct four industrial units at the back of Sough Bridge Mill, Colne Road, Kelbrook, was withdrawn ahead of a meeting when it was due to be decided upon by councillors.

The outline application was due to go before the West Craven Area Committee of Pendle Council yesterday (Tuesday) with a recommendation that it be refused on grounds that there was not enough information from the applicant in relation to the potential contamination of the site, and an 'unacceptable' impact on highway safety.

But the meeting at the Rainhall Centre, Barnoldswick, heard that the application had been withdrawn at the request of applicant AB Investments NW Ltd.

A report to the committee had recommended refusal and had stated: "The applicant has failed to demonstrate that the site is suitable for the proposed development through the production of a preliminary ground investigation. As such, it is not possible to say whether the proposed development would be acceptable."

The highways authority, Lancashire County Council, concluded that the development would have a 'significant impact on highway safety, capacity or amenity in the immediate vicinity."

The proposal was to demolish existing buildings on the site and replace them with four light industrial and storage units in a 'courtyard arrangement." Permission was sought for access, layout and scale.