Controversial proposals to create a £12 million leisure centre at Wilsons Playing Fields in Clayton-le-Moors will now be referred to a cabinet minister, after councillors narrowly voted to approve the scheme.

Hyndburn planning committee voted by six votes to five - with two abstentions - to grant permission for the project, despite pleas from two Great Harwood residents and Overton ward Labour Councillor Colin McKenzie to reject the scheme, which will replace the closed swimming pool in Mercer Hall.

Now, because of the size of the scheme and its location in protected Green Belt countryside, the approval will be referred to Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up and Communities, for him to rubber stamp, reject or order a Whitehall audit of the decision.

The scheme - which involves demolishing the existing clubhouse and replacing it with a new centre accommodating a 25 metre four lane pool, indoor and outdoor changing facilities, gym, offices, community rooms, a café and reception area - generated 114 objections.

Campaigning Great Harwood residents Peter Shaw and Ian Wilkinson told the meeting on Wednesday that locating such a large complex on Green Belt land would be "totally inappropriate and a bad idea" depriving their township of much-needed leisure facilities.

Mr Wilkinson said the proposed site was too remote for most potential users.

Cllr McKenzie said there were better locations which had been rejected without good reasons in Great Harwood and there were no adequate special circumstances to justify using Green Belt land.

The site currently accommodates Hyndburn Athletics Club and Accrington Wildcats Amateur Rugby League Football Club.

Huncoat ward's Cllr Dave Parkins and his Rishton Labour colleague Bernard Dawson, who both voted against approval, said their main concerns were the traffic and highway safety problems on the already congested Whalley Road and Clayton Hall Drive the new development would cause - concerns echoed by Baxenden Tory Cllr Terry Hurn who abstained along with Central ward's Cllr Abdul Khan.

Milnshaw Labour Councillor Paul Cox voted for approval saying it would help progress the health of borough residents.

Lyndsey Sims, Hyndburn Leisure Trust's chief executive, told the meeting: "The attendance forecast for the proposed new facility is 159,000 visits in year one, growing to over 200,000 visits per year within the first two years, equating to around 560 attendances per day.

"This is in addition to existing participation on the Wilson's Playing Fields site.

"In comparison, annual participation levels at Mercer Hall when it was fully operational with a mature membership base was less than half of this figure at just over 72,000 attendances."

Mr Shaw said after the meeting: "We are not happy. This is wrong. We want a swimming pool but we don't want it at Wilsons."

Hyndburn Council's leisure boss Loraine Cox said: "I am delighted that the Wilsons Playing Fields has been passed.

"The whole of Hyndburn will now benefit from a up to date sports facility providing better facilities which is key in improving the health of Hyndburn residents."