PLANS to demolish a building which "acts as a focal point" in local parkland to make way for new housing, are set to be rejected by Pendle councillors.

Developers Livingstone Properties want to clear The Hide - built at the turn of the century as the headquarters of Ball Grove Tannery, Colne - in a scheme to erect 14 detached homes on a 2.5 acre site.

But the plan has run into trouble from local residents and council officers who say the development would result in the loss of trees and severely detract from the nearby country park.

The Hide was converted to a plush restaurant in the 1980s but now stands empty, boarded up and "systematically vandalised and ransacked" says an officers' report to tomorrow's meeting of the council's Colne Committee.

Nevertheless, they say it is an important structure, acting as the focal point of the surrounding parkland like a pavilion in a classic park landscape. They add that councillors could investigate the possibility of Listing the property to protect it.

The committee has received 11 letters of objection and a 25-name petition opposing the scheme.

One describes it as "an example of attempted exploitation and profiteering" by the developer.

They say the proposal amounts to overdevelopment of the area, and would cause traffic, safety and many other problems.

Officers say the problems surrounding the site could be overcome if the Hide were retained and re-used, perhaps for housing purposes.

But as the proposal stands, they say it should be rejected because part of the building site infringes on green belt land, would lead to the loss of protected trees and an unacceptable loss of public open space.

They also say demolition of the Hide would affect the character and amenity of the parkland area it lies in.

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