A NELSON company has been refused planning permission for a flue to remove paint spraying fumes from its building.

Plans for the flue at Unit 18, Barnfield Business Centre, Brunswick Street, were submitted after investigations by environmental health depart-ment following complaints about fumes by residents.

Nelson Committee was told by planning manager Neil Watson that fumes could not be taken into consideration on a planning application and that once permission had been granted, the company would then need to apply for a permit when the issue of possible pollution would be dealt with.

But councillors were angry that reports they had expected from environmental health had not been submitted a month after they were requested and voted to refuse the plans.

The planning application will now be heard by Pendle Council's development control committee which could overturn the decision to refuse permission.