BURNLEY Council bosses will spend £10,500 on planning consultants to lead their case at a public inquiry into businessman Andrew Brown's plans for a 100-acre leisure complex on green-belt land.

The resources committee is tonight expected to approve emergency spending to employ top consultants GVA Grimley is expected to be approved at tonight's meeting of the Resources Committee.

A report to councillors said GVA Grimley will need to explain what planning issues it considered, and why the council approved the controversial scheme at Crow Wood House Farm, near the M65 Asda Junction, when the matter was discussed earlier this year.

The development control committee gave the project the go-ahead, which includes a multi-sport leisure complex, equestrian centre and new woodlands, sparking fierce opposition from environmentalists.

The Secretary of State subsequently ordered a public inquiry into the issue -- a four-day hearing begining at Burnley Town Hall on July 18. The cost is estimated to be between £30,000 and £50,000, with Mr Brown and the opposing Friends of the Earth group blaming each other for forcing a costly inquiry into a major departure from the Local Plan.

Mr Brown has challenged opponents to "have the decency" to pay the inquiry costs if they lose the argument, blaming them for forcing it.

They have responded by saying Mr Brown brought the inquiry down on himself, and that it was obvious such a major breach of green belt policies made a public inquiry inevitable.

Burnley and District Civic Trust will announce this week whether they will support the proposal, following talks with the developer.