A BUSINESSMAN who turned his cash and carry store for retailers into a supermarket serving the general public has been told to turn it back.

Nazir Hussain, boss at the NH Food Store, in the former Globe Works building, Brown Street, applied for planning permission last night at Hyndburn Council's planning committee, so he could carry on using his cash and carry as a 'supermarket'.

But the retrospective application, supported by three councillors and a public petition, was refused. The committee ruled that it went against their policy of not letting new retail business trade in out-of-town centre locations.

The council argued that the store didn't meet a local need, and if it stayed as a 'supermarket' rather than a cash and carry, there would be problems with parking, as the increased number of cars would need to park on the pavements.

Coun Douglas Hayes said: "I am worried about the effects it would have on other people that these policies are there to protect."

Coun Edith Dunston added: "He has had total disregard for planning procedure and as a businessman he should know all about these policies."

But Mr Hussain's son Majed, who runs the store, told the committee the store was good for the town. He said: "Rather than take customers away from the town centre the store is taking them to the town centre. The few customers we have had that are from out of town have always asked were the town centre shops are and we have directed them there."

The store, which specialises in ethnic food, had been granted planning permission earlier in the year, but with strict conditions not to operate as a retail outlet.

But after complaints to Hyndburn Council's enforcement officer, an inspection was made and the council claimed the store was fitted out 'entirely as a supermarket'.

The firm's boss Nazir Hussain, applied for retrospective planning permission because he claimed the business was more successful trading this way. Councillors Pam Barton, Tony Dobson and Brian Roberts all spoke in support of Mr Hussain and urged the committee to defer the application until they had inspected the site themselves. They praised Mr Hussain for his "entrepreneurial spirit".

Coun Barton said: "There is no problem at all with traffic, it is a very wide road and there are spaces for for 15 to 20 cars. I have talked to a lot of people in the area and it is a predominantly Asian area. This shop is selling specialised food to the people in the area.

"This was a derelict building and Mr Hussain has turned it into an asset that has improved the area. I ask that the application be deferred until councillors on the committee have inspected the premises."