A TRADER who fears he is being pushed out of Blackburn town centre to make way for a new development has won backing from the town's Chamber of Trade.

Alfred Henry, who runs the New Image fashion and accessory shop, told the Blackburn and District Chamber at an executive committee meeting that when he leaves the centre to make room for the proposed redevelopments he will be losing up to £50,000 in stock and investment.

The chamber now plans to write to ask the shopping centre owners, London-based Reit Asset Management, for a few month's reprieve for the business. His lease is due to run out this month but he wants to stay on for another three.

After the Monday night, Mr Henry said: "I have put a lot of time and effort into this shop and I am so angry we haven't had any help or support from Reit.

"My shop is in between two that are staying until July and I have asked them to give me the same timescale. They said no and won't even do me the courtesy of giving me a reason."

Reit are to spend £15million on a revamp of Lord Square if plans are approved, with work starting in summer. Mr Henry presented a list of points to the chamber to convince them to help him stay until work starts on the square.

He claims he has had no offer of relocation or compensation, will have a complete loss of £30,00 investment and five sales staff, and will be left with £20,000 unsold stock. But during the meeting, the chamber voted to send a letter asking for Mr Henry to be given more time to sell off stock.

Raymond Goldstone, who was sworn as the chamber's new president at the meeting, said: "We are sad that people are losing their jobs but a development has to go on."

Kevin McGrath, a partner in Reit, said: "We will not, and cannot, force people to move. If they have got a lease and it is unexpired they have rights until the expiration of the lease. Clearly we would need possession to allow a major redevelopment to go ahead, one that the town has been crying out for for 10 years.

"We will look at individual cases but if we delay the whole scheme we could lose retailers."