A taxi firm has been told it can continue to use a former sandwich shop as its control centre despite objections from nearby residents about parking and traffic problems.

Sun Cars has been using the previously empty retail unit once home to 'Almonds, Nutz about Butz' without local authority approval.

But now Blackburn with Darwen Council has given backdated planning permission for Mohammed Munawar to keep operating the premises in Openshaw Drive, Roe Lee, Blackburn, as the firm's booking office.

The retrospective approval was granted despite neighbours objecting on grounds that there is no parking already resulting in difficulties to residents struggling to park their vehicles. They fear it will be exacerbated by a taxi business occupying the few existing spaces and other concerns include - it is not a suitable use of shop front which would impact on residents, house prices and future interests of the area; and the site is at a busy junction and used for school traffic.

A report by planning officer Jamie Edwards recommending approval says: "Planning permission is sought for the change of use of the ground floor from a previous retail sandwich shop to a taxi booking office.

"The proposed use is currently ongoing, and the application is therefore retrospective.

"The premises was previously used as a retail sandwich shop but were vacant for a period of time.

"The proposal therefore brings the building back into active use.

"It will also provide employment opportunities and a valuable service to residents of the borough.

"The application site is positioned close to residential dwellings on both St James’s Road and Openshaw Drive.

"Conventional taxi ranks have the potential to result in unacceptable impacts to the living conditions of nearby properties particularly at unsociable hours by virtue of noise associated with increased vehicle activity to and from the premises, as well as customer interaction.

"It will solely operate as a taxi booking office comprising only of a digital booking system via telephone calls or electronic bookings and without any customers visiting the premises.

"Taxi vehicles would not need to arrive nor wait in the area given respective jobs are sent as and when they’re out on other pick ups and drop offs.

"It is accepted a few taxi vehicles are likely to kept at the site.

"The operation of the taxi office will be restricted to that of a control centre.

"A condition is to be added to restrict the use to a taxi booking office only with no public access.

"This will likely prevent vehicles parking outside awaiting jobs."