PROTESTERS are celebrating a 'bittersweet' victory today after planners threw out proposals to build three apartment blocks in Rawtenstall.

Councillors went against officers advice after they recommended the plans for approval at Thursday night's development control meeting.

McDermott Developments, based in Manchester, wanted to build three-storey blocks, including 34 flats, at Woodtop Garage, Bury Road, Rawtenstall. They put forward the revised application in place of plans which were refused by Rossendale Council's planners earlier this year.

The applicants appealed and a decision on that is due before Christmas.

In the latest plans the developers reduced the height of the apartments to appease residents' concerns that the buildings would tower above their properties.

John Cowpe, spoke at the meeting on behalf of the applicants, and said: "It's exactly where the structure plan wants us to build housing.

"It's a brownfield site, which is exceptionally well located. We had a similar situation a couple of years ago at Free Lane where it went to appeal and we won. I would urge you not to make the same mistake again."

Residents' representative Sean Butler, who lives in the nearby Holmeswood estate, spoke after the meeting and said: "This is a bittersweet success for the residents.

"We all know they will go to appeal which will be biased towards the developers because of government guidelines which instruct developers to increase the number of dwellings.

"We now have apartments springing up all over the place."