A CONTROVERSIAL plan to erect a seventh storage silo at a Nelson factory has been withdrawn.

Councillors deferred a decision on whether to grant planning permission for the 50ft silo at Nelson Packaging's Waidshouse Mill site, Townsley Street, to allow them time to visit the factory. But the company has since told Pendle Council it has withdrawn the plan.

The decision is good news for local residents who collected nearly 100 signatures on two petitions against the silo. They claimed they suffered the smell of burning plastic from the factory and soot fell onto their homes and cars.

One of the residents, Irene Sharman, of Bispham Road, said: "I'm very pleased by the decision but a bit surprised. I find it a bit strange really that they've decided not to go ahead." She said residents would continue to press for traffic measures to tackle the problem of large lorries visiting the mill.

Barry Starkie, operations director at the firm, said: "We've listened to what the residents have had to say and we've no wish to fall out with them."

Mr Starkie said the company's divisional managing director had written to council planners outlining the reasons behind the decision. He said the firm would continue discussing its situation with the council.

Nelson Packaging, which makes plastic carrier bags for some of the country's leading firms, is part of the massive British Polythene Industries conglomerate.

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