HYNDBURN Council's planning department has been branded a 'slow-coach' in Government performance tables.

Now planning chiefs are hoping two new recruits will help produce a quicker service to save the council's blushes.

The statistics, released this week, put the planning department second from bottom for the time taken in decision-making. According to the figures for the 12 months up to last September, just 33.6 per cent of planning decisions were made within the government's target of eight weeks.

But planning minister Richard Caborn expects local authorities to decide the outcome of 80 per cent of applications within that time.

A council spokesman said: "Hyndburn planning application performance is poor in the year 1996/97 and the authority has taken action to improve these figures.

"The time taken to process applications has suffered through a reduction in staff during the reorganisation. This has been addressed and two new members of staff will be appointed this week which will significantly improve performance."

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