PEOPLE power won the day when councillors backed a residents' campaign to throw out an electroplating company's expansion plans.

Nearly 40 residents from Healey Wood, Burnley, packed the town hall committee room and six used their right to speak.

They were restricted to just 10 minutes, but their message was received loud and clear when the development control committee refused the plans by R S Plating to develop an industrial unit off Springhill Road, on grounds that they went against the local plan and represented an intensification of industrial use which would be harmful to the amenity of residents.

The decision was greeted with applause from residents, who at one stage were threatened with eviction for interrupting the meeting.

Residents' association spokesman Ruth Stinchon, said after the meeting: "We are very relieved. It just shows that if we unite our efforts then the power of the people does sometimes win through."

Chartered town planner Alban Cassidy queried the classification of the proposed building because of the harmful chemicals that would be stored there.

Dr Philip Day, an environmental chemical toxicologist, said he had visited the company's Billington Road site and it was a 'good example of very bad housekeeping with lots of empty drums.' He was also concerned about the potential of hazardous vapour from the works .

Resident Bob Atkinson said he was concerned about the safety of the site and what could happen if children got over the fence and into the compound.

Kath Belton said: "I hope someone or some child does not have to die before action is taken. Any additional use would be harmful to children," she said.

Mrs Stinchon told planners: "The peace and beauty of the area would be shattered by this application and it would cause unacceptable noise pollution for 12 to 24 hours a day."

Planning officer Paul Skinner said: "The council has never had an application that has had so many individual letters relating to it."

Coun Charlie Bullas recommended turning the application down saying: "It is a very emotional issue and is very concerning for residents. It is a small residential area and to the residents it is their village."

Coun Bullas' refusal proposal was unanimously agreed by the committee.