THE latest twist in the long-running saga of controversial plans to turn a former workshop into a caravan site has caused outrage.

Traveller John Loveridge’s original December 2014 application to put four caravans plus a shower and toilet block on the vacant former Lawnmower Specialists site in Sandy Lane caused thousands of objections.

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A revised scheme was refused by councillors in March 2015, a decision confirmed by government inspector Ahsan Ghafoor in May.

Now a new application has been recommended for approval by council officials and is due to be considered by the Blackburn with Darwen Planning Committee on Thursday.

Darwen MP Jake Berry, who hosted a packed protest meeting in January 2015 against the scheme, has branded the U-turn ‘outrageous’.

In the report to committee, planning officials said: “The applicant has sought to address the previous reasons for refusal by removing the business use within the site.”

The new scheme is for a private residential caravan site comprising of the siting of one static caravan and three touring caravans and the erection of an amenity building, following the demolition of the existing site building.

The report says: “The removal of the established business use of the site effectively removes the previous reason for refusal.

“It allows for a revised layout that is consistent with the standards set out in the council’s conditions.

“The proposal is considered satisfactory from a technical point of view, with all issues addressed through the application.”

Mr Berry said: “This recommendation is outrageous.

“The applicants have used every trick in the book to try to get this planning application passed and I am furious the council have not listened to local people’s concerns.

“I have been working with local councillors and residents for over two years to try to stop this development but it looks like the council may have finally given in.”

Mr Loveridge’s agent Mike Carr said his client had no comment to make in advance of the meeting.

Fernhurst Conservative councillor Jacquie Slater said. “This is outrageous.

“There are already two other Travellers’ sites close by, there is absolutely no need for another one.”