CHORLEY town centre is awash with drink and reaching "saturation point" say concerned police chiefs.

Their warning comes as part of the town centre is set for major redevelopment into new licensed premises.

Discount pub chain Wetherspoons and supermarket firm Booths are to move onto the site of the present bus station and former post office.

The application by Maple Grove Development Ltd has been recommended for approval by planning chiefs, and was due before Chorley Borough Council's development control committee last night (Tuesday, October 29).

Police have requested that Booths have the off-sales liquor licence removed on their Market Street store as a condition of planning permission when they relocate.

As for on-licensed premises, such as pubs and clubs, police have asked the council "to be careful" not to make decisions likely to increase crime, disorder or public nuisance.

They have even asked the council to consider introducing a policy limiting the number of licensed premises.

Reporting the police's comments to the committee, Alan Croston, the council's head of planning services, stated: "It is recommended that CCTV be incorporated into the scheme. It is also suggested that the council extend the hours of CCTV surveillance in the town to 3am in view of the number of late night venues now licensed."

But a disappointed councillor Adrian Lowe, the development control committee chairman, said before the meeting: "I don't know where the police are coming from.

"I'm just slightly amused and sad all they can do is not give a personalised response but come up with a standard response which isn't achieving anything. I just think it is not rational, logical or sensible to suggest this."

Mr Graham Booth, property director of Booths Supermarkets said: "In the event of a successful outcome to our planning application for a new store in Chorley town centre, and in line with current policy, the company would apply for an off licence within the new store..

"Should a licence be granted, we would not intend to continue to hold a licence on the Market Street premises."

Sgt Geoff Sumner, from the licensing department at Chorley Police, said: "There's a pub everywhere you turn now in Chorley and Times Square is opening up again.

"Where do we say enough is enough?"

Regarding Booths, he added: "There are more off licences in that square mile than most other towns."