More than 20 residents from an East Lancashire village packed a planning committee meeting to see councillors overturn plans for a small mother and baby home on their street.

A planning officer had recommended councillors approve the conversion of a three-bedroomed family house into a small mum and baby home.

The scheme, for the property in Bluebell Way, Huncoat, had generated 69 objections from nearby householders.

Altham-based Prosperity Children's Services Ltd, formerly named Trinity Care and Education Services, had applied to convert the detached three bedroomed house into a residential care home for a mother and baby (or for two children) supported by up to three carers.

It was rejected by Hyndburn Council planning committee on Thursday, after Huncoat ward's Councillors Danny Cassidy and Dave Parkins both spoke against the application.

A letter was also received from Hyndburn MP Sara Britcliffe opposing the plans.

In June 2023, two similar proposals from the same company for other homes in Bluebell Way were refused by the committee against planning officers' advice.

That came after an emotional plea by street resident Kelly Ball who said her daughter had been knocked over because of double parking on the road.

The rejections are currently the subject of appeals to the government's Planning Inspectorate.

Ms Ball, of Bluebell Way, appeared before the committee again to outline residents' objections.

She claimed the impact of one, let alone three, small care homes on the street and associated vehicle movements was "a massive concern to me".

After committee chair Cllr Judith Addison proposed approval of the home according to the officers' recommendation, the other 12 councillors voted to reject the proposal on the grounds of the loss of local amenity, due the the impacts of traffic and vehicle movements.

Moving refusal, Labour's Cllr Paul Cox said granting permission for the home would have 'an unacceptable adverse impact on the local area'.

Cllr Cassidy told the meeting he was deeply concerned at the 'mushrooming' numbers of such small care homes in the borough, despite the concerns of Lancashire County Council children's services department, adding: "I think we need to put a stop to this."

Cllr Parkins said there was 'an epidemic' of such applications.

In response to the concerns of several councillors about the number of small care home bids, chief planning officer Simon Prideaux told the committee: "Officers are preparing a report for cabinet that will make recommendations on how a policy can be developed that addresses these types of development having regard to best practice and the approach being taken by neighbouring authorities."