PLANNERS at Hyndburn are to consider a planning application for a cafe where people have been allowed to smoke cannabis.

The application was submitted by Frank Mac, who runs the Studio One tattoo parlour on Warner Street and the coffee shop above it.

Brendon Lyons, the council's head of planning services, said enforcement officers from the planning department wrote to Mr Mac as long ago as April to say the tattoo parlour, which has been open a year, needed planning permission.

They wrote again following a complaint about the use of the upstairs as a coffee shop.

Mr Lyons said: "If the coffee shop was only being used by customers of the tattoo parlour that wouldn't need planning permission. It was around that time the cannabis issue first became public knowledge. We wrote to them again saying they needed planning permission for the whole thing.

"The operators were disputing whether the tattoo studio needed permission."

Planners wrote again early this month confirming both the tattoo studio and coffee shop needed permission.

An application was received a week later for change of use from office to tattoo studio and coffee shop.

Speaking at a meeting of the town centre regeneration assembly, council leader Ian Ormerod said: "We need clarity from the Home Office as to which way they are going to go on it." Inspector Phil Cottam, Accrington's police commander, said: "It's one of those issues that is somewhat difficult to deal with. While offences are being committed we will do all we can to make sure those offences are detected.

"I haven't got any powers to close it down. All I can do is monitor it very closely and see where it goes next.

"Some of the traders on Warner Street are extremely concerned that it will affect trade and several have contacted the police.

"I personally hope common sense will prevail. We are not going to be in any way complacent on this issue. We will do all we can to uphold the law."

Mr Mac declined to comment.