A YOUTH club is threatening legal action over moves to open a bail hostel in Blackburn.

West End Youth Club are furious at Blackburn with Darwen Council's decision to approve planning permission for the hostel in Clayton Street. Organisers at the club claim dangerous sex offenders and criminals could be housed at the centre.

And they are planning to take the case to the High Court amid fears that the future of the 50 year old club could be under threat.

Members of the council's planing sub-committee ignored advice from planning officials and passed the application.

Opponents met with Lancashire Probation Service and were told sex offenders, known as Schedule One offenders, could end up at the new hostel on release from prison.

Andy Dineen, a spokesman for the West End Youth and Community Centre, said: "I was at the meeting and was staggered at the decision. "As far as the councillors were concerned the hostel would be used for people on bail, but that is not what we have been told.

"It seems amazing that the council would open a hostel where sex offenders could housed, just yards from an infants' school and a centre for children as young as four."

He added: "We have already taken legal advice and are looking at the possibility of a judicial review in the High Court."

The Salford Diocese of the Catholic Church has also spoken out against the controversial decision.

The Catholic church owns the building and Salford Diocese youth worker Bob Beardsworth, said: "The West End Youth Centre has served the community of Blackburn for over 50 years.

"It is appalling that the council has agreed to this application when you consider where it is sited."

"We feel the council has shown a genuine lack of concern about the well-being of young children in the town."

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