A COLLEGE is set to take a leap into the future after being granted planning permission to build a state-of-the-art multi-media complex.

But nearby residents have blasted the council for giving the project the go-ahead, claiming lives will be put at risk because of the site access road. Development work is expected to begin within days at St Mary's College, Shear Brow, Blackburn.

The new development will contain two floors and will house four IT classrooms, two media studies classrooms, a large meeting room, TV and radio studios, two seminar rooms and one classroom.

Access to the site will be from St James' Road -- which residents say will be a recipe for disaster because it is close to two schools.

Coun Maureen McGarvey, who lives in St James' Road, said: "I object to the road directly opposite a school being used by lorries and work vehicles. St James' Road is an already busy road with two schools and the college in very close proximity. The nursery school has four drops during the day and they are very young children being escorted to the nursery.

"Some care and consideration should have been made to the residents who already have had enough inconvenience caused by excessive traffic and parking."

Councillors approved the planning application on the understanding that £2,000 be given by the college to fund any repairs to roads. Building vehicles will not be allowed to use the roads between 8.30am and 9.30am and 3pm to 4.30pm.