A MOUNTAINboard centre in Cradley will remain open after being granted temporary planning consent.

Out To Grass, at Woodend Farm, was threatened with a closure notice in August when Herefordshire Council said it failed to comply with the terms of its existing temporary planning permission.

More than 350 people signed a petition against the closure and the centre remained open while a new application for full planning permission was made.

Owner Ian Johnson said he needed full planning permission to secure funding and grant assistance, which he hoped to use to improve parking, install toilets and showers at his campsite and set up a transport system to bring young people to the centre.

The application was deferred at the November meeting of Herefordshire Council's northern area planning committee, to allow officers to find out more about Mr Johnson's plans.

However, at its meeting on Wednesday, the committee decided to allow the centre to remain open for at least 12 months. This is on the condition that details of the National Mountainboard Championship held at the centre are submitted to the council for approval three months prior to it taking place.

Residents had raised concerns about noise and traffic problems when the championship were last held.

Councillors felt that by granting temporary permission and asking Mr Johnson to submit full details of the event, past problems could be resolved and the centre may then be granted permanent planning permission.

Mr Johnson said that he was disappointed that he had been unable to get full planning permission as this meant he would not be eligible for the grants he had hoped to receive. But he said it was a relief that the centre could continue to run.

"It's a pleasure at last to be able to have some frank and open negotiations with planners and for them to listen," he said. "I think they've woken up to the fact that mountain boarding is a great sport and that we bring the national championships to the area."