Labour Councillors reject Lib Dem call for rethink on 3 day market

A meeting of Blackburn with Darwen's Call-In Committee last night rejected calls for a rethink on the demolition of Darwen's 3 day market. The Liberal Democrats and Conservatives jointly called the decision in, but all the Labour Councillors on the committee voted against the move.

Speaking to the committee Lib Dem Councillor David Foster said,"Before we agree to demolish the market we need to see what is being put in its place and we need to look at the future of the whole of the market and the Town Centre, this decision cannot be taken in isolation. Many of the people who are opposed to the demolition could support it we only knew what was going to take its place."

In response the Labour Executive Member for Regeneration, Cllr Phil Riley said that they were well on the way to developing a vision but could not give any guarantees.

Cllr Foster pointed out that planning permission was needed to demolish the market. The market is in a conservation area and according to the Council's own Local Plan the following condition applies: "Consent will not be granted for demolition until an acceptable redevelopment scheme has been approved and there is evidence that a contract had been let for the full implementation of the scheme."

Cllr Foster said," I hope when this comes before the Planning Committee they will ensure that this condition is fully complied with."