AN APPEAL could be lodged against the decision to refuse planning permission to build a new police station in Rossendale.

In January councillors rejected plans for a new police station in Bacup after describing the design as resembling a prison.

The project had outline planning permission but the go-ahead was rejected because of concerns about the building materials.

But now the proposal could be resurrected after Lancashire Police Authority's Resources Committee requested an appeal be lodged. A decision will be made when the authority sit on Thursday.

The new station was to be built on the site of the former Horace's Nightclub, off Market Street, which closed in 1997 because of poor trade.

The state-of-the-art station would house 80 officers, including community beat managers and police community support officers.

Consultation had taken place with the Commission of Architecture in the Built Environment who backed the scheme, and when the plans were published no public complaints were received.

But councillors said the building would be within the town's Conservation Area, and would not be in keeping with Bacup's heritage.

At the meeting in January, Coun Judith Driver said she was appalled at the design.

She said: "We do want a presence of police in Bacup, it's something all the councillors want but not at the cost of a building stuck out at the entrance to Bacup Centre."

Since the decision to refuse permission the authority has been considering the option of having an operational centre supported by numerous smaller stations located strategically across the valley.

However, no decision has been made on this proposal.