Purpose

Futures Park sits on the former site of Lee Mill – a woollen mill built in 1825, that converted to a cotton mill in 1835. In 1999 demolition and clearance of the site began and had been completed by May 2002. A year later construction of a new industrial estate was underway, which included the office block known today as the Kingfisher Centre, housing the offices of Rossendale Borough Council.

The proposed section to be stopped up is a section that links the main spine of Futures Park to Unit 5, the site of Orthoplastics Ltd who have occupied the premises since 2020. The attached plan (FP01) shows the extent of the proposed stopping up which encloses the full width of the highway, including footways and any verges, and commences at the junction with the main spine of Futures Park for a distance of 95.1 metres in a south-easterly direction to its termination. This section of Futures Park serves only as an access road to Unit 5 and does not link to any other highway or footpath. It no longer serves a practical purpose and is therefore considered unnecessary.

Initial consultation with relevant organisations including Rossendale Borough Council and statutory undertakers has been completed in line with the council's procedures.

No objections have been received to date.

On confirmation of the appointed officer's approval to proceed the council will commence the making of the application and issue of Public Notice which will include the dates and times of the court hearing.

Decision

Peter Bell, Regulation and Enforcement Manager, took the decision to approve the proposed stopping plans as set out in the report.