DEVELOPERS are hoping to begin work on a car showroom and valet bay in Colne, after waiting more than two years for planning permission.

The scheme, which will be developed on land at Crown Way, was approved by Pendle Borough Council after an amended plan was submitted by the applicant.

Original plans included an area for the outside display of cars for sale and the developer, Barnfield Construction, was told it would have to pay £3,693 as part of a Section 106 Agreement to cover the cost of clearing 30 trees, replacing them and maintaining them for five years.

The council received no response from the applicant until almost one year later when a letter was sent stating that the scheme had been amended to retain the trees.

The firm is now eager to begin the work on the site.

Mark Taylforth, a spokesman for the company, said "We are very pleased that this has got planning permission after all that time.

"We will now be talking to Preston's to find out what the next step will be."

A report to the Colne and District Committee said: "The application has been unduly delayed due to the lack of response from the applicant.

"It is considered that the application should now be determined based on the information that is available." The showroom will be built on an open grassed area on the former Coal Wharf landfill site, at the corner of a traffic light junction in Vivary Way.

The showroom is expected to have a similar appearance to the Preston's Garage, which is opposite the proposed site.

There will also be a car display area with 42 spaces.

The amended application, submitted in February 2000, was accepted with the conditions that no trees should be felled, the showroom should open between 8am and 7pm, Monday to Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sundays, a minimum of 10 car parking places should be provided for customers and protective fencing should be placed around the trees being retained.