OUTLINE planning permission has been granted this week for Glusburn's All Saint's Church to be demolished and the site used for residential development despite objections by neighbours.

The building known as the "tin tabernacle" because of its bad state of repair closed its doors to worshippers at the end of January.

On Monday, Craven District Council's planning committee agreed in principle that the site could be used for residential development.

The church, which was built in 1907, will now be knocked down to make way for one house and a garage. The detailed plans will be subject to a site visit.

However, the decision to give the go-ahead was challenged by neighbouring residents who said Walker Close was already a "death trap" and another house and access on the road would make it more dangerous.

The site of the church currently lies opposite the access to Walker Close.

One objector said at the meeting: "I find it amazing that the local highways authority has not objected as there are lots of accidents on that road and Walker Close is a death trap as it is and to have another access on that road would make it worse."

However, the planning officer said: "The existing use of the building is a potential traffic generator and consequently there must arguably be a trade-off in traffic terms between existing and proposed uses."

Coun Stephen Place added: "I have never experienced any problems turning left or right so I don't think there is even any need for a site visit."

The application was approved subject to various conditions including the provision of off-street parking within the site along with a turning point for cars.

l Provisional approval was granted this week for plans to build kennels and a cattery in Cowling.

The applicant wanted to renew consent to build two units to house dogs and cats at Moor Lodge, Long Hill End.

Craven District Council planning officers had recommended the plans be refused on the grounds that the development would cause a noise nuisance to neighbours.

However, members agreed to approve the plans in principle but defer granting full consent until amended plans were produced.

Originally, planning officers had also recommended refusal on the grounds that the access roads would not be suitable to serve the amount of traffic generated.

Their report said: "Access to the site from the A6068 is via Old Road which is narrow and tortuous."

This point was contested by Coun Jan Gordon, who said: "Kennels should be in isolated places anyway and if we expect them to be where they won't be a nuisance, we have to accept people will have to negotiate these kinds of roads."

The concern of neighbouring residents that the kennels would be "visually intrusive" from the track up Ickornshaw Moor, was taken into account by members by deferring the decision for amended plans.

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