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.
 

Content

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