RESIDENTS living near the site of a proposed multimillion pound school say it will bring a traffic nightmare to their area.

But the new East Blackburn Community School, to be built under a £150million revamp of education in the borough, has been given outline planning permission.

It will be built on the golf driving range off Haslingden Road.

People living in the Queen's Park Road area had written to protest at the plans, and one resident told Blackburn with Darwen's planning committee a planned entrance on their street would cause parking problems and block emergency vehicles.

Coun Salim Mulla said: "The development is welcome - the new school will help regenerate the area. But the residents have real concerns about where the access should be for that school.

"Queens Park Road already has major traffic problems."

Coun Andy Kay said: "Access to the site is going to be very difficult."

Planning officers told the committee the residents would be consulted once more detailed plans for the school were put forward, with just outline permission for the development being granted at this stage.

Coun Salim Lorgat said a thorough consultation had to take place, rather than just "notices on lampposts".

Replacement schools at Pleckgate and Witton Park were also given planning permission without debate at the meeting on Thursday night in Blackburn Town Hall.