CONTROVERSIAL plans for a traveller site in Lower Darwen have been withdrawn by the applicant.


John Loveridge's plans to install four live-in caravans on part of the former Lawnmower Specialists site in Sandy Lane, Lower Darwen, sparked a huge backlash with hundreds of people signing an online petition and a public meeting being organised.


The plans, which proposed the 'retention of existing commercial use with part change of use to accommodate one static caravan, three touring caravans and erection of amenity building' were pulled earlier this week.


But one local councillor said she fully expected a revised application to be submitted in the coming weeks after discussions with planning officers.


Residents who had attended a second public meeting to voice their concerns on Wednesday were told of the withdrawal, which has been universally welcomed.


Fernhurst councillor Jackie Slater said: "It will certainly make it a more pleasant Christmas for everyone if this stays withdrawn, but I am expecting it to be resubmitted.


"The agent has already asked for a price of how much it would cost to resubmit.


"We have told the residents to keep vigilant and keep an eye out in case travellers just turn up one night, as they so often do without planning permission."


Coun Slater said the traveller site was not needed and there were already too many in the area.


She said: "There have been so many objections and at the end of the day if you look at our ward we have got two big traveller sites at each end.


"There is the one at Goose House and then, although it is just outside the ward, there is the one at Ewood.


"There is no need for another. We already have enough traffic going up and down Sandy Lane, can you imagine what it will be like with caravans going up and down it?


"In this side of town already has its fair share of these camps so if they need another they should put them in another part of town."


Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate for Darwen at next year's General Election Will Straw said: "I know that many people in Lower Darwen who have been in touch with me about this planning application will be relieved by this news."