NEIGHBOURS of a new 82-bed care home in Colne just yards from a high school fear they will be swamped by extra traffic.

Residents on Gibfield Road, near Fisher More School, already have to put up with some parents parking in their own drives to pick up students.

Now with the proposed conversion of the former Ecroyd training centre into a care home, the residents are predicting more problems. Keith Waddington, of Burnley Road, said there were also problems with the county council-run child development centre.

While there was a 20-space car park, he had counted 60 vehicles associated with the centre, he told Colne area committee.

Stephen Fraser, of Gibfield Road, said: “I am not against the home but my biggest concern is over car parking. There are already three bus stops located there for the school.”

Fellow neighbour Deborah Feeney added: “Smoking is another issue. The staff at the training centre all used to stand around on the street and smoke. Where are they going to smoke here?”

But residents were told by councillors that the parking provision of 24 spaces provided by the applicants exceeded current guidelines. Coun Tony Greaves said residents had attended a number of public meetings regarding the private care home and he was grateful a ‘compromise’ solution could be reached.

Borough planning manager Neil Watson said the parking situation could be monitored by the authority, to which councillors agreed in passing the plans.