DELIGHTED campaigners in Guide are celebrating after John Prescott announced an inquiry must be held into plans for a major commercial development in the area.

The deputy prime minister's decision means that the controversial project will now be in limbo for at least four months until an inquiry is held.

And no final decision will be taken for some time after the inquiry meaning that if the scheme was finally given the go-ahead, work would not begin until well into 1999.

Developers Arrowcroft North West, an arm of United Utilities, is the company behind the project to create a hotel, car showroom, petrol filling station and sport/health centre on land near Haslingden Road.

Residents from the area flocked to the town hall at the meeting of the Blackburn with Darwen Council planning committee which decided to refer the decision to Mr Prescott's department for the environment, transport and regions. They were disappointed with the committee's conclusion that it was "minded to approve" the project.

But now they are delighted that they will have the chance to put their case for rejection of the project before a government inspector.

Spokesman for the residents group Mrs Pat Kennedy said: "This is a reward for all our efforts and we will now prepare our case in readiness for the inquiry."

Permission for 120 new homes to be built on a nearby site on Haslingden Road has already been approved by councillors.

This project will not be affected by the inquiry into the commercial development.

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