THE owner of a private rest home at the centre of controversial plans to open a unit for abused children today said he will have no connection with it if proposals get the go-ahead.

Peter Nuttall, of Deansford Residential Home in Dean Road, Helmshore, spoke through his solicitor after residents in the area revealed they would fight the plans during a public meeting earlier this week.

Neighbours are planning to write letters to Rossendale Borough Council outlining their objections to a planning application to change the use of the home. Deansford currently has 14 elderly residents who would have to move out if a proposal by Halliwell Homes are approved. Halliwell Homes, who have a similar home in Stockport, want to turn Deansford into a home for eight children aged between eight and 14.

The planning application states they would be victims of physical, emotional or sexual abuse or neglect.

Solicitor Roger Medlock, of Woodcock and Sons in Haslingden, said: "Mr Nuttall has no connection with Halliwell Homes, the company which has applied for planning permission and would have no ongoing involvement with them should the application be granted."

Mr Medlock said Deansford had been for sale for some time and refuted a claim that residents were not aware of the plans.

He said: "Immediately after notices of the application were published, Mr Nuttall notified all his residents about the matter and contacted their relatives so that they were fully informed of the situation and were aware of the options available to them." He said the social services New Care Commission Standards Office and Lancashire County Council had also been notified of the proposals.

A Lancashire County Council spokesperson said: "It is entirely possible that the former county council-run Social Services Inspection Unit, which became part of the new National Care Standards Agency, was contacted about a change of registration.

"Since their transfer to the new agency on April 1 they are a separate organisation. The social services child care division were not aware of these proposals."