THERE were cries of 'shame on you' as councillors voted through controversial proposals for a massive new office block on Warren Drive.

A packed planning committee meeting saw councillors vote to accept Asda Stores Ltd's application for a three storey office block on one of Blackpool's largest remaining open areas.

Officers told the meeting they had taken 'high level legal advice' before recommending that the plans be accepted.

Conservatives and Liberal Democrats voted against the proposal, and accused Labour councillors of 'rubber stamping officers' decisions.'

Councillors fear the development could add to flooding and traffic problems in the area, as well as ruining one of Blackpool's largest open spaces. Fears were also raised that the council planned to sell off part of the site which it owns to allow further office development.

Norbreck Conservative Cllr Peter Callow told the meeting: "The residents of Norbreck and Anchorsholme are looking to you to refuse this application, even if it is supported by planning officers. Please don't let them down."

His Bispham Conservative colleague, Cllr Donald Clapham, added: "Is there a hidden agenda? If this goes through, will the council sell its part of the site for a second set of offices?"

Anchorsholme Liberal Democrat Cllr Steven Bate added: "This is a defining moment for this committee. There are, perhaps, 20,000 people in the north end of Blackpool who have a pretty low opinion of this council, and it will be a rightfully low opinion if we just rubber stamp what officers put before us."

But Labour's Cllr Barry Cresswell said: "I understand everything that everybody has said, I agree with most of them but I don't think we can refuse this application, or it will be thrown out at appeal."

Under questioning from councillors, head of technical services, John Shaw, said it would be 'feasible' to design a system which could prevent water discharged from the site adding to flooding problems in the area.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Callow called for council leaders to 'reveal their plans' for the council-owned part of the site.

Officers agreed to look again at plans for another development on nearby Lyddesdale Avenue. Developers, Baxter Construction Limited, wanted to build seven homes but fears over flooding led officers to a rethink. They also promised to look again at several trees, the subject of preservation orders, and examine reports that gold-crested newts had been found.