OWNERS of the Rock-It Music Company in Colne - formerly Rockenbay Song and Dance Company - will be hoping councillors will take the advice of planning officers tonight and allow them to keep a vocal coaching booth.

Planning permission for their recording studio was granted for 104 and 106 Green Road in October 1997 but the ground floor area of number 104 was intended to be used for retail sales associated with the studio.

Around two and a half to three years ago, a vocal coaching booth and control room were installed which involved a change of use and a retrospective application was temporarily approved in July 1999 following investigations in to noise complaints about the booth.

Since then the booth has been out of use due to a fire and since its restoration there have been further noise complaints and the company have been asked to re-apply for permission.

A report to the Colne and District Committee said the booth is sound insulated, containing no amplifiers or speakers, and only the voices of the singers can be heard in the booth, which is the same situation as when permission was granted in 1999.

Principal planning officer Janet Filbin said: "The only issue relates to possible noise nuisance to the adjoining householder at 102 Green Road. Since the granting of planning permission for the vocal coaching booth there have been complaints to Environmental Services on four recorded occasions and a written complaint to the planning department on one occasion.

"Given the outcome of the investigations, there is not an identified noise nuisance or loss of residential amenity to the adjoining occupier and there is no reason to withhold planning permission."