A CHURCH leader has called on the council to rubber stamp his church's plans for redeveloping a rundown part of Ribbleton.

The minister at Bethel Evangelical Church, in Delaware Street, wanted to take over two boarded-up properties nearby and turn them into a car park.

He and the congregation hoped the move would sort out Sunday traffic problems around the building, but their initial planning application was refused on a technicality by the council's planning chiefs earlier this month.

Some local councillors are now backing a fresh bid.

Minister Alan 'AB' Robertson said: "Whatever we do would improve the entrance into Preston. We would definitely have knocked down derelict property which would have given a better impression for people coming into the city."

The church would need to raise enough money to buy the properties in New Hall Lane first, even taking out a mortgage if necessary. They hoped to build a 'high quality' car park with security lighting.

Councillor Ian Hall, St Matthew's ward councillor, said: "These properties are certainly not in the best condition.

"The church may may well put in a further application, in which case I hope the planning committee may look on it a little more favourably. I would have liked to see the application passed."

Mr Robertson said: "We are definitely going to re-apply with a different plan. We are looking at alternatively knocking down four properties.

"Two are derelict, and one was operating as a shop but it has closed down. They have all basically been disused for 12 years."

Ron Atkins, chairman of the planning committee, cast the deciding vote on the first application. He said: "The government policy now is that 60 per cent of new housing should be built on brown field sites -- sites that have been occupied before. They are becoming dead centres.

"But this is going in the opposite direction. This is pulling down two houses to make way for a car park, and it seems a terrible waste of space."