An Earby man is blaming council bureaucracy for scuppering plans to put up an Easter cross in the centre of the West Craven town.

David Hartley, a member of Churches Together which covers Earby, Kelbrook and Salterforth, said the group had intended to put up a five foot wide and nine foot high Easter cross on the council-owned land across from the Earby Post Office for a period of three weeks.

However, when the group was informed of the cost of getting a temporary licence from Pendle Council, they decided to put it up at All Saints’ Parish Church, on Skipton Road, instead.

“It cost £100 to draw up a licence, which is far too much for something that would only be up for three weeks,” said Mr Hartley. “There was also a lot of bureaucracy involved.”

He said the council asked Churches Together to provide documents regarding liability cover, a health and safety risk assessment, a method statement and details of how the cross would be installed and secured.

“A temporary thing shouldn’t require all that money and difficulty,” said Mr Hartley, who added that the fee would have used up all of Churches Together’s funds.

He said putting the cross at All Saints simplified matters as it was covered by the church’s insurance.

A Pendle Council spokesman said: “West Craven Area Committee councillors approved granting a licence to Churches Together in Earby, Kelbrook and Salterforth to erect a wooden cross over the Easter period on council-owned land on Colne Road in Earby.

“The council was willing to grant the licence without payment of a fee but asked for a contribution of £100 towards its costs in completing the agreement.

“Churches Together chose not to proceed with this licence and we understand that they have since erected their cross on land outside All Saints’ Parish Church.”

The cross, made by Earby tradesman John Wilson, was erected at All Saints on Thursday.