LANCASHIRE County Council is applying for planning permission to pull down the former Accrington Technical School, which is now part of Rhyddings High School's annex building in Union Road.

The council plans to sell the land for housing and work is due to begin this month to create new technology rooms at Rhydding High School's separate main campus in Haworth Street.

It will effectively mean an end to pupils have to walk between the two sites between lessons -- and bring an end to the technology department's 70 year life.

Planning permission for the multi-million pound project at Haworth Street has already been secured, and the technology annex is expected to be vacated by March next year.

Local councillor Peter Britcliffe today said the scheme was an ideal use for the site, although he admitted it would be sad to see it go.

Assistant Head John Coulter said: "Lancashire County Council have put together the proposal for the Union Road site.

"Basically, they want planning permission to use the site for a residential development.

"We have 1,060 pupils who will all be based on one site sometime next year. "We have to vacate the Union Road site by March next year so it figures that work will begin sometime after that."

He added: "It seems a good site and the county think they can get a lot of money for it.

"It will be a massive improvement for us to have the school on one site.

"Because of the traffic that is an accident waiting to happen. It is very, very dangerous, particularly for younger pupils.

"This has always been a good local school and now we will have first rate facilities."

Private sports facilities will be provided on neighbouring land at Paddock House, which used to be the old Grammar School.

Previously, all grass sports have been played on Heys Fields.

The new technology department will be built on the site of the current science labs, which are to move elsewhere on campus.

Council leader Peter Britcliffe said: "I am sure many people will be sorry for this building to go because it has played an important role in the town for so long.

"But this is a prime brownfield site and I am sure people would much rather see this site developed instead of other areas, such as green fields.

"The worst thing that could happen is for it to be neglected and left empty."

No-one was available to comment at Lancashire County Council.