FAST food giant McDonald's has pulled out of its battle with Pendle Council to get permission to build a controversial drive-through restaurant.

The international company was due to take on the council during a two-day planning inquiry next month after councillors failed to decide on McDonald's proposals to build the restaurant in Crown Way, Colne, within a set time limit.

But now the fast food chain has withdrawn its appeal leaving the way open for Colne-based Stanley House veterinary centre to pursue its plans for the same piece of council-owned land. Councillors have already agreed outline planning permission for a new vets centre on the site. McDonald's spokesman Stephen Hall said: "The council refused to give a consent that if we won the appeal they would sell us the land. There was no way we would go to appeal unless we had that consent."

Mr Hall said the company was looking at alternative sites nearby including a retail and business centre in North Valley Road, Colne, which has planning permission.

Councillors opposed the Crown Way restaurant scheme because of fears about extra traffic using the busy Crown Way/Vivary Way junction.

McDonald's offered £200,000 for the site, more than twice as much as the vets' £90,000 bid.

The surprise move by McDonald's ahead of the planning inquiry, which was set to start on September 8, will please residents living near Crown Way who opposed the restaurant plan because of concerns over noise and extra traffic in the area.

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