A VICTORIAN shopping arcade in Rossendale, being eaten away by dry rot, is at the centre of a planning row.

An application to remove the wooden fronts of most of the shops in the Victoria Arcade in Waterfoot is being opposed by Rossendale Council planning officers because the applicant is not prepared to replace them with replicas. Dry rot has affected wood at ten shops in the inner arcade of the shopping complex, opened in 1899 by six-times Mayor of Rawtenstall Sir Henry Trickett.

Infected floorboards from the shops have already been taken out.

The arcade, a listed building, has been described as one of the area's best kept secrets and conservationists want to preserve its character.

A report by a dry rot specialist said extensive decay was found in the shop fronts, caused by water penetrating from blocked gutters.

The report recommended that all the shop fronts, frameworks and timber floors be removed. A Rossendale Council report will go before councillors tomorrow.

It says: "In accepting their removal the question arises should they be replaced with replica fronts in a bid to conserve the character of the inner arcade.

"Or, should the shop units be left open and effectively continuous with existing space in the inner arcade."

The applicant wants to keep the shops open and has claimed replica frontages are not practical and too expensive while council planners want to see them fitted.

The applicant has appealed against the council for taking too long to decide the matter and the scheme will now be decided by a planning inspector.

Planning officers said they had asked for more time to consult with conservation groups and did not accept they acted unreasonably.

Councillors are recommended to advise the planning inspector that the council opposes the removal of the shop fronts because it would detract from the look of the building.

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