PLANS to turn a former church into an Indian restaurant have met with strong opposition from residents who have signed a petition to try to stop them going ahead.

People living in Dickson Street, in Colne, are against the plans to turn Langroyd Road Methodist Church into a restaurant and function room because they believe it will spoil their street.

Planning officers have recommended approval of the application despite two letters of objection received from residents in Dickson Street and North Valley Road.

A multi-page petition against the plans will also be presented to members of the Colne and District Committee tonight..

The 19th century building, which has been empty for two years, would be transformed into a first floor restaurant accommodating approximately 50 to 55 people and would employ around 12 staff.

Access to it would be off Dickson Street and a car park would be created on the unused land next to the church building.

But residents will attend the meeting tonight to protest against the development on the grounds that Dickson Street and Langroyd Road are already heavily congested with traffic, the proposed car park would be inadequate and there would late night noise, pungent smells and more litter.

Beryl Baldam, of Dickson Street, said: "It was all right when it used to be a church and then a nursery but I don't want it to be restaurant.

"There are a few elderly or disabled live around here and they need cars at their doors. If this opens as a restaurant the street could be backed up with cars belonging to it and we won't be able to get a spot for our own cars.

"There's no need for it and I am going to tell them that at the meeting. There's a Chinese takeaway on the next block, McDonald's and soon Kentucky Fried Chicken, chippys and an Indian up the road."

Resident and shop owner Frank Timberlake said: "The residents wanted to run the petition and they asked me to put it in the shop. We ran out of paper and they had to provide us with more there were that many names on it. Dickson Street is already full of cars and one of the main objections I have is the rubbish and vermin that it attracts. These places always stay open late at night and there will inevitably be takeaways and vehicles doing deliveries. "It is better something be in there than it being an empty building but it would just better if it was something that didn't have so much traffic attached to it."

The application could be given the green light tonight subject to conditions, including a noise assessment being carried out and the installation of an approved fume extraction system.

Also, the restaurant would have to close between between 11pm and 9am, Sunday to Thursday, and 11.30pm and 9am, Fridays and Saturdays.