A debate was held over controversial plans for a takeaway at the former Foto-Fast shop, in Market Street, but Pendle councillors said there were no planning reasons to reject the application.

Coun. Tony Greaves admitted: "As an ordinary resident of Colne, no I don't want another takeaway here. If I wasn't a councillor, I would be saying 'why aren't you stopping this?', but we don't have the powers to do it. If we turned down this application against the recommendation of planning officers, it would be referred to the development control committee, they would probably pass it, but if not, and it went to appeal, we would lose and the council would get done for costs."

Residents' feared the new takeaway would bring problems with litter, vermin and anti-social behaviour.

Licensee at the Red Lion Joanne Parkinson was also concerned smells from the extractor would enter her living quarters and feared people would eat their food in her beer garden.

But the council's Colne and District Committee passed the plans, set with the conditions the takeaway would be allowed to open from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. daily, a fire door and flue would be built to certain guidelines, and bins provided.