A DECISION on plans for a new health centre in Stacksteads has been deferred.

The application was recommended for refusal on the grounds of access problems but councillors deferred the issue to seek more information.

Brian Boys, a Rossendale developer, applied to Rossendale Borough Council, to build a health centre on land behind Newchurch Road, Stacksteads.

The authority's highways department recommended refusal on the grounds of highway safety. Officers said the proposed layout, next to a housing development, would cause access problems.

The Farholme Lane doctors' surgery in the village is moving to the new Bacup "super health centre" which is expected to be completed by 2005.

Councillors said the new surgery would serve the needs of the Stacksteads community. It would also provide hope for a pharmacy threatened with closure when the Farholme Lane surgery revealed it was to move out of the village.

David Hancock, development control committee chairman, said: "We don't have enough information on proposed access.

There clearly seems to be support for this application. It's beneficial and we must make sure that somehow we find an alternative access. I would like to see this approved. If we defer the application we can look at alternative access and take into account the footpath."