PROTESTERS look set to have won their case to build a new village surgery in Stacksteads.

The proposal is to demolish the ambulance station in Commercial Street, and build a new health care facility, after it was revealed by the Farholme Lane surgery that needed bigger premises to cope with patient numbers.

Councillors have received just four objections on the grounds of access, pedestrian safety, added traffic, parking problems and the fact that there is no need for any more health clinics in the area.

Local members of Rossendale Borough Council are concerned that if Stacksteads loses its only GP's surgery, the chemist will also be under threat.

According to Councillor Michael McShea a similar closure 25 years ago devastated the community.

Coun Michael McShea and Coun Dale Connearn have been working to save the surgery and pioneered a campaign in the local community to gather support.

Coun McShea said: "It is still in the early days yet but we are really hoping that we can keep the surgery in Stacksteads. 25 years ago the surgery was invited to move into Bacup's Health Centre -- without consultation. It did and left the people of Stacksteads without a vital health service. I am not prepared for this to happen again. We need a surgery in the village and that's the way it should stay."

He said if the surgery was to move to Bacup it might put other shops in Stacksteads under threat because patients would take their custom to Bacup.

A petition has been handed to the council with more than 400 signatures, as well as an additional 41 letters of support.

The highways section made a comment that it would be difficult if the number of visitors to the site increased, creating access problems to and from Commercial Street.

John Hains, report author, said: "The majority of the representations, including the over 400-signature petition, and the preference of the GPs is for the health centre to remain within Stacksteads.

"On balance it is considered that the benefits of a health centre serving the local community slightly outweighs the problems associated with the unsuitable access.

"The retention of a health facility within Stacksteads will help ensure that Stacksteads remains a more sustainable community and that this follows the wish of the majority of the representations that have been made in favour of the application."

Planners are set to recommend the application at Wednesday's Development Control meeting.