BURNLEY Council's new chief executive will hold an emergency meeting to try to find an alternative site for a controversial engineering depot.

The move to meet with county council chiefs came after furious residents voiced their anger at plans which could see 400 cars and lorries rolling past their homes every day.

Steve Rumbelow will try to resolve the row over the county's proposed engineering services depot on land off Gannow Lane - close to hundreds of homes on Gannow Lane, Sunderland Street and Bradley Gardens.

Locals say the site will increase traffic levels in an already busy area, increase noise levels and affect property prices.

And they have been backed in some of their concerns by the head of planning at Burnley Ccouncil.

Residents lobbied councillors from the borough's development control committee when they discussed the plans last night.

Eileen Thompson, speaking for the residents, said: "We have worries about the danger to adults and children, disturbance to people living nearby and heavy vehicles on Gannow Lane.

"This is in the middle of a residential area and is totally opposed by everyone. There must be a better site."

Councillors voted to strongly object to the plans, which will be considered by the county council at a meeting next month.

Coun Phil Horocks said: "I do not believe the county council have looked hard enough for an alternative site. There must be somewhere more suitable than this."

Mr Rumbelow, who took over the reins as chief executive last month, said: "This has created understandable concerns and I will seek an early meeting with the county council to see if we can examine alternative sites."

The county council says it needs to move the site because the current base is required for the re-development of Burnley College.

It would have to buy the land from private owners if the scheme went ahead.

Susan Graham, head of planning at Burnley Council, said she shared the concerns about the traffic and the noise.

She added: "I have concerns about the location of the depot on this site.

"A high volume of traffic, around 400 vehicle movements per day, is generated and this, along with activity on the site, would be likely to result in noise disturbance to neighbouring residents.

"Proper functioning of the engineering depot is obviously vital to efficient operation of the highway network.

"However, a main road location with good access, away from residential property would be preferable."