COMPANY bosses and planning chiefs look to have reached a stalemate over moves to redevelop a prime site in Accrington.

Office furniture makers Lupton Brothers were granted permission to demolish the company's crumbling Victorian mill and market the site to developers.

But the firm, which is in the process of moving from its former base in Fountain Street to a modern trading estate in Altham, wants strict planning restrictions removed.

Hyndburn Council is refusing to budge despite claims the land on the fringe of Accrington town centre would be impossible to sell at a decent price unless the planning conditions are dropped.

Luptons, who employ around 70 workers, claim the future of the firm is at risk because the council will not allow a restaurant or fast food chain set up on the site.

Ratcliffe Groves, a Bury-based company acting for Luptons, has written to Hyndburn Council calling for the conditions to be dropped. They said: "There were no previous indications that such conditions would be imposed, and the site was marketed in the expectation that both food and non-food uses would be permitted.

"Our clients have moved to new premises at considerable cost and due to the uncertainty which presently exists they are not able to complete a satisfactory sale of their existing premises, which is seriously undermining their economic survival."

The company has also threatened to appeal against the council's decision not to remove the restrictions.

George Slynn, the leader of Hyndburn Council, said: "It is the right of this council to impose conditions which are designed to protect our planning policies.

"We also have to try and retain jobs in the borough and I think that the decision we originally took was right."

Coun Bill Goldsmith added: "It is true to say officers and councillors spent hours in negotiations.

"Every help and assistance was given to this firm and the original decision made was the correct one."

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