A service station on the main road between Blackburn and Darwen has been given permission to rejig its car washing facilities.

The Kay Group (UK) Ltd can now go ahead with the changes to its Bolton Road Service Station in Darwen despite objections from nearby residents,

It proposes to demolish the existing rollover carwash and refurbish the existing jet wash facilities, to include two additional jet washes and two proposed valet bays.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has granted planning approval for the changes with 10 conditions.

They include that there shall be no site operations on any Sunday or Bank Holiday nor on any other day except between Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm and Saturday from 9am to 1pm.

The nearby residents objected to the planned revamp on grounds of noise, road safety, extra traffic and a consequent loss of value of their houses.

A report recommending approval by planning officer Jamie Edwards said: "The application site relates to an existing petrol filling service station situated on the western side of Bolton Road, Darwen.

"The site has an existing shop/sales building associated forecourt area with fuel pumps, jet wash bays, a car wash facility, single VAC bay and substation enclosure.

"On the opposite side of Bolton Road are several blocks of development forming Mayfield Flats with residential housing to the south-west on Astley Street.

"Planning permission is sought to demolish the existing car wash building and installation of a further two jet wash bays and two proposed valeting spaces.

"The proposal includes works to an existing petrol station which already benefits from features which are proposed as part of this application.

"The proposals will not result in any significant intensification of the site to which traffic will be increased and the surrounding road network harmed.

"The scope of a material consideration does not extend to the protection of purely private interests such as the impact of a development on the value of a neighbouring property, and therefore this has not been taken into account during assessment of the application."