PLANS to build a cafe in the foyer of a 124-year-old former theatre have now been approved despite councillors being recommended to reject them.

Burnley Council's planning committee were split down the middle over a decision to create a cafe at the entrance of Burnley's Empire Theatre, in St James's Street, which has been vacant since it closed as a Gala bingo hall in 1995.

The proposal includes the partial demolition of part of the historic theatre, which is located within a parade of retail shops in Burnley town centre, and the creation of a new shop front with iron gates, along with a rear balcony and outside seating area.

The applicant, Mr Pino Musso, plans to invest £100,000 into the business and was previously granted a 10-year temporary permission to create a cafe at the entrance in March.

However Mr Musso submitted a new planning application shortly after permission was granted following concerns over the long term future of his business.

A decision on the new application was made in a crunch hour-long planning meeting on Thursday between councillors at Burnley Town Hall and where five speakers talked about the application, three spoke in favour of the application and two against.

Representatives from the Theatre Trust and Burnley Empire Theatre who were at the meeting voiced 'strong' objections to the application after launching a campaign to renovate the Grade-II listed building back in 2016.

Tom Clarke, of Theatre Trust, described the theatre as an 'iconic asset' that would draw people in from out of the area to Burnley once renovated, while Sophie Gibson, of Burnley Empire Theatre Trust, said the development of the cafe would 'jeopardise' the future use of the historic theatre.

However three speakers, including a local councillor and the son of the applicant, said they supported the proposal. Cllr Shah Hussain said: "I think the theatre trust needs to embrace it rather than challenge it."

Mr Musso's son Francesco said: "My father is the owner of the entrance of the theatre and we have issue on a daily basis.

"We have had damage to our property that cost thousands of pounds to repair and had more than 30 break ins. We have to pick up the pieces."

The other speaker Amjad Ali, a Burnley businessman, accused the two theatre trusts of lying to people about the nature of the planning application.

He said: "They are bringing up support by telling people it will become a mosque or a corner shop. It angered me and that's why I'm here."

Councillors were equally divided at the meeting, with some councillors suggesting a shared entrance could be used for the cafe and the theatre to solve the problem.

Cllr Mohammed Ishtiaq, who represents the area, said: "We are promoting and encouraging businesses to come and invest in Burnley. If there is a company who could come in and help regenerate (St James's Street) it should be welcomed."

Cllr Asif Raja also voiced concerns about how the revamped theatre would be competing with the town's other biggest theatre, Burnley Mechanics. He said: "If the theatre did get developed what would happen to Burnley Mechanics? They are struggling to get numbers in as it is."

Other councillors said they were concerned about going against the officers recommendation. Deputy leader John Harbour said: "This committee and the council has a moral obligation to the trusts to help restore the whole building. If the officers reaction is that (the application) would 'permanently fragment' the theatre, we would be left with a mess."

Cllr Frank Cant added: "There is no guarantee a shared entrance would an ideal solution until I see it in black and white."

The chairman, Cllr Arif Khan, who had the casting vote in the crunch planning meeting on Thursday, decided to go against the recommendation of planning officers.

He said: "I have lived in Burnley for the last 46 years and in that time the bottom of St James's Street has got worse. Before I die I want to see someone develop that area."

After the meeting, Theatres Trust architecture adviser Claire Appleby said: "This is a double blow as not only is it a permanent permission but also extends the development further into the building beyond.

"This makes the challenge of restoring this wonderful theatre as cultural and heritage asset for Burnley even greater."