A RESIDENT of Barnoldswick's Victoria Road says the town's Silentnight bed company is abusing planning permission awarded more than 20 years ago.

Malcolm Brown aired his anger at West Craven's Area Committee meeting this week.

He said in 1980 the company was given permission to use a loading bay in front of his and his neighbours' houses.

But Mr Brown said it had not stuck to a planning condition attached which stated the loading bay could only be used four times a day.

Since then Silentnight had increased its use and what began as just four visits per day from wagons had increased to around 20 after 10 years, with as many as 50 now.

He asked the council to look at forcing the company to apply for a change of use of the loading bay and workshop in order to try and force them to reduce the number of vehicles using the road.

"We have complained many times but nothing has ever been done," said Mr Brown.

"We have spoken to the Royal Institute of Town Planners and approached the council about the number of wagons turning outside our houses. What we want to know now is will the council fund us in getting Silentnight to reapply for a change of use?

"It could continue to spiral and we could get to the point when we could have 200 wagons using the bay all day and all night. There has been mention that they could increase their wagon use by 10 per cent over the next few months which to us is another 30 wagons. Only you can help us," said Mr Brown.

However, planning officer Janet Filbin confirmed Mr Brown's initial fears that little could be done because Silentnight had not actually changed its use of the site.

The council could not even make representations to the company because it was more than 10 years since permission was given.

"We are aware that there was a condition in the original planning permission which the company has never complied with for whatever reasons; perhaps because it was unreasonable to begin with," said Mrs Filbin.

She confirmed planning permission became immune from enforcement action after 10 years and the council could only look at breaches in conditions.

"As far as a change of use goes, the company has not changed its use, only increased it. It is not doing anything different there other than making more visits so I don't see how the council can pursue that line or take action," she added.

Coun Frank Neal described the suffering of Victoria Road residents as "diabolical".

He said just because Silentnight was a big powerful company it should not be allowed to get away with doing what it liked.

"If we were looking at planning conditions surrounding a conservatory at a domestic property we would do something about it. I think we should look at this and see what we can do for these residents," he said.

Distribution director for Silentnight, Stephen Broomhead, said the increase in wagons was due to the expansion of the company and a subsequent increase in the delivery of raw materials - some of which were delivered to the Victoria Road site.

"We are a successful company which has increased its employee numbers from 630 to 700 over the past 18 months, while other employers around West Craven and the Burnley areas have been making redundancies.

"We have had several meetings with Mr Brown and have looked at find a solution to the problem but have not found one that is viable or cost effective," said Mr Broomhead.

Meanwhile, Coun Margaret Bell said the area committee would look at reports and complaints received in the past and bring the matter back to the next meeting.