A BID to change a vacant former motorcycle showroom into a new café with a children’s play area and retail space upstairs has been supported by nearly 70 people.

But there are concerns from some people about traffic safety, customer car parking, noise and cooking fumes linked to the proposed new businesses.

Applicant Wing Lui has applied to Rossendale Council for planning permission for the café and upper floor retail space at 801 Burnley Road, Crawshawbooth.

The proposed new café could be open from 7.30am until until 9pm. But the core hours are expected to be up to 6pm.

Councillors are due to consider the plan at the next meeting of the borough’s development committee on Tuesday. Planning officers are recommending it be approved. But Lancashire County Council has raised an objection over traffic issues.

A planning report says the building has been vacant for years and its appearance has ‘deteriorated significantly’. It adds:  “The development would bring a long-term vacant building back into use, operating as a café for the local community. There have been 69 signatures on a letter from residents in the surrounding area supporting the application.

“The proposed development will improve the visual appearance of the property and the immediate area. It create a number of jobs for employees of the café and the retail business. The property is in a sustainable location adjacent to a bus route. When considered together, the benefits are significant,” the report adds.

Planning officers acknowledge the café and retail space could potentially create issues for neighbours but these can be adequately overcome by planning conditions, they suggest.

But county highways chiefs fear the proposed development would have a ‘significant impact’ on road safety.

Borough planners do not believe the impact on highway safety would be ‘unacceptable or severe’. The shop site is in a 30mph zone and the main road has double-yellow lines nearby, which prevent on-street parking. Under existing planning rules, the building can be lawfully used for retail and a showroom.

Planning officers believe any parking or traffic safety issues can be addressed. Applicant, Wing Lui says many customers will live locally and will walk to the café.

The planning report adds: “While the harm and the benefits are very finely balanced, it is considered the public benefits of bringing the property back into use would slightly outweigh the identified harm, which would be mitigated with conditions.”

If councillors back the plan, the developer will have to provide full details about a new shop front and ventilation to deal with cooking fumes.