A proposal to convert the former Maclean services club into a funeral home has been withdrawn.

The sale of the building, which is under contract between the seller, Maclean RSL Sub-branch, and purchaser, Hope Bennett and Riverview Funerals, was pending Clarence Valley Council (CVC) approving a development application (DA).

However, Ms Bennett has told the Independent that the sale of the building “has not fallen through”.

Both, Ms Bennett and the sub-branch’s president, Stephen Walton, said they were not in a position to “comment at this time”.

The funeral home proposal had raised the ire of a number of Maclean residents, one of whom, former Maclean town planner Warren Rackham, posted on several social media sites in early July.

Mr Rackham said that CVC had “agreed to extend the date for submissions … because this proposal does have strong community concerns and interest”.

“The current sale of the Maclean [Services] Club has been of great and indeed emotional concern to club members and the community,” he wrote.

The services club was placed in voluntary administration in June and is in the process of liquidation.