CHORLEY is facing yet another serious threat to its town centre trade from a massive new shopping and leisure complex on its doorstep.

Proposals for the next phase of a development just outside Bolton town centre were due to be rejected by Chorley planning chiefs this week.

They fear the substantial scheme, incorporating a factory outlet shopping centre, pub and restaurant, museum, '21st century mill' and bowling alley, will lure shoppers out of Chorley.

And they argue that the proposed development flies in the face of national and strategic policy.

Phase one - including the Virgin 13 screen cinema, Esporta health and fitness club, Atlantis nightclub and restaurants and pub - has already been built following an application by THI.

Phase two, which, if passed, will provide 120,000 square feet of retailing space, has yet to go before Bolton's planning committee.

But Chorley's planning committee vice-chairman, Ken Charnley, said it was not welcome.

He said: "We don't want a shopping precinct, or call them what you want, just outside the borough so more people will come out of Chorley to spend their money."

Chorley District Chamber of Trade has written to the council objecting to the proposed scheme.

Secretary, Jose Hampson, said: "It just takes more and more trade out of the centre centre. I'm totally opposed and the Government is opposed now."

Council chiefs are worried because a retail impact study from the applicants suggests the scheme would have negligible effect on Bolton town centre - yet 30 per cent of its trade would probably come from a 15-30 minute drive away.

The factory outlet is substantially larger than one recently proposed and later withdrawn at Middlebrook, and at Botany. Chorley Borough Council rejected and refused both respectively.

Alan Croston, Chorley's deputy director of technical services, said: "We just think the proposal would compete with surrounding town centres and have a detrimental impact on our town centre."

Chorley, which has been invited to give its views, also argued that the development would result in increased car use, creating more pollution.

ZWhat do you think? Write to the Editor, Chorley Citizen, 45/47, Pall Mall, Chorley, PR7 3LT.

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