THE owners of Burnley’s Keirby Park Hotel have been ordered back to the drawing board in their bid to revamp the landmark venue.

Proposals to build an 11-storey apartment block on the side of The Keirby, as well as revamping the hotel and creating three new shops, had divided opinion.

Burnley Civic Society criticised the proposals as “unimaginative” and the national Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment felt there was “inadequate justifi-cation” for such a tall building at that location.

Council planning head Sue Graham, recomm-ending the scheme for approval, said it was accepted the blueprints were not the ideal solu-tion.

But she warned that councillors would have to choose between the package on offer or risk the prospect of the hotel remaining in its current state.

Coun Tony Lambert said: “The Keirby at the moment is a mess. It does nothing for the town centre.

“I think any improve-ment would help and I think we should back this scheme.”

But critics felt the borough council would be settling for ‘second best’ if the hotel proposals, drawn up by RMD Developments, were passed.

Coun Frank Cant said: “We will have to put up with that building for many years. When we are looking at planning appli-cations we should be looking 50 or 60 years into the future.

“This is like a prison block built on to the side of a derelict building.”

Coun Andy Tatchell added: “This will be between the award-winning bus station and St Peter’s Health Centre. We need something here which will be of high quality.

“I am as keen as everyone to see The Keirby sorted out.

“If this is the only way then I have grave reservations.”

Coun Sharon Wilkinson said: “I think we should refuse it and ask them to come back with some-thing better.”

Councillors agreed to refuse the application, which would also have created a new car park for the apartment tenants.