AN East Lancashire care company has had two proposals to turn family houses into small children's care homes rejected and two approved by councillors.

Hyndburn Council's planning committee granted planning permission to Altham-based Trinity Care and Education Services to convert adjoining four-bedroomed detached properties at 25 and 27 Three Brooks Way, Oswaldtwistle, into accommodation for up to two young people.

But it refused approval for two similar schemes from the company rejecting the advice of borough planning manager Simon Prideaux.

They were at 30 Epping Avenue in Altham and 100 Thwaites Road, Oswaldtwistle.

Councillors were concerned about traffic, parking and the amenity of nearby residents.

A fifth similar bid by another company - Residential Child Care Community (Town Hall) Ltd - in Waverley Road, Baxenden, was given planning permission.

The full planning application for Epping Avenue followed Hyndburn Council planners refusing a bid to gain a 'lawful development' certificate to use the three-bedroomed detached house for a mother and baby unit in September.

The proposal to accommodate up to two children in the house by Trinity - which already operates the next door property as a small children's home - generated a 138 signature petition of objection from nearby residents and objections from Altham Parish Council, Hyndburn MP Sara Britcliffe and ward councillor Miles Parkinson.

As well as deciding on the individual applications the committee delegated Mr Prideaux to prepare a guidance document for use when considering future such applications which its deputy chairman Cllr Judith Addison described as a 'mushrooming industry' in August.

Addressing the meeting on Wednesday on behalf of Epping Avenue local resident Jonathan Chadwick said: "These homes have a significant increase in visitors such as staff, social workers and health professionals and would be above the expected level of a similar family home.

"We believe planning have not considered the long-term impact on the well being of the neighbouring properties. The car parking issue alone warrants this application to be rejected."

His case was supported by Altham Parish Council chairman Cllr Rennie Pinder and ward Cllr Parkinson who both spoke a the meeting.

Giving evidence to the committee Trinity Care director Edward Smethurst said there was demand both locally and nationally for such small homes to help vulnerable children with his company having received seven requests for placements in 48 hours from Lancashire County Council. He said all its properties were well-run and registered with Ofsted.

The Epping Avenue application was refused on grounds of traffic, parking and impact on nearby residents.

The proposal for the mid-terraced house in Thwaites Road in Oswaldtwistle was rejected as an unsuitable location close to a busy main road.

After the meeting Mr Chadwick said: "We are absolutely delighted. It is what we have worked towards for 12 months."