PLANS to replace one of Colne's best-known mills with a retail park have been thrown out.

Bosses at Morbaine Ltd wanted to demolish Glen Mill, North Valley Road, and replace it with a 50,000sq ft shopping centre.

However after councillors feared the development would strip trade from the town centre and create traffic chaos, outline planning application was rejected.

Glen Mill was built in 1906 and English Heritage said the building was of historic interest.

No firm proposals were made in the outline application, but it was believed the mill, currently home to Empress Mills and opposite the North Valley Retail Park, would have been replaced with a DIY store and garden centre and two other units.

Access to the development, would have been off Hanover Street.

Colne Committee rejected the plans after council officers told them more suitable sites were available closer the town centre. They also said that the scheme would lead to the loss of a historic mill and create traffic problems.

Coun David Clegg said: "I think if this proposal was to go ahead it would lead to traffic problems and Hanover Street in particular would be unbearable because a lot of traffic already uses it to get out in to North Valley Road because of the traffic lights."

Coun Howard Thomas added: "I see very few reasons for being in favour of this application."