A FORMER Nelson care home could become a business centre and day nursery if plans get the green light.

But the chairman of Nelson Area Commitee says he is devastated by the news.

Walverdene Home for the Elderly, Rigby Street, closed in 2003 and was sold by Lancashire County Council.

Hometraders NW Ltd has applied to Pendle Borough Council for permission to convert the building into a business centre with offices for seven companies, a day nursery and two semi-detached houses.

Planning officers are discussing the application, which is in its early stages, with the developer's agent Oswaldtwistle-based Anthony Flanagan.

Nelson councillors are expected to discuss it when they meet in April.

Planning officer Kathryn Hewertson said: "It is quite unusual to have three uses in the same building and we will have to see how they are going to work together.

"The building is being converted, there is no new build involved.

"The applicant has put down that 40 vehicles are expected to visit the site each day and we may well request a further breakdown on that.

"The houses have garages and they are providing some parking, including a parking bay for a minibus, but the majority of parking would be within existing town centre car parks."

But chairman of Nelson Area Committee Coun David Foster said he would prefer the building to be used for the elderly again.

Some former care homes such as Wheatley Court, Fence, are being redeveloped to offer 'extra care' sheltered housing schemes for the elderly which enable them to live in their own flat but have round the clock support.

Coun Foster said: "It's obvious that the building is not going to come back for community use.

"I campaigned very hard, along with the rest of my group, to keep facilities for older people open and I'm devastated that they are being sold off .

"There are waiting lists for day care centres and luncheon clubs. People have to wait for someone to die before they can get a place. You can have a 92-year-old lady who doesn't remember what happened five minutes ago with carers going in. How can that person be properly looked after?

"We need homes for these people where they can be cared for 24 hours a day and losing sites like this is just going to make the situation worse."