BLACKBURN'S trading association today backed a scheme to revamp rundown Lord Square -- despite fears the plans could leave nearby Church Street a "£2.5 million white elephant."

The executive committee of the Blackburn and District Chamber of Trade discussed the £15 million scheme, which was unveiled last week by shopping centre owners Reit Asset Management.

The plan includes five new, large shop units, similar in size to the nearby T J Hughes store, to fill in the square.

And the plans show there will be no entrances to the new large shops on the shopping centre side of Church Street. But Blackburn with Darwen Council, which raised the funds for the £2.5 million facelift for Church Street, is unhappy that there is no shop frontage in the plans and believes Church Street could be effectively cut off.

The council's vision is for a bustling pedestrianised Church Street and civic leaders also want to get high-class tenants in the Waterloo Pavilions, which are undergoing a £1.3 million refurbishment.

Tony Fitzgerald, the council's town centre manager, said: "In preliminary discussions the council has made that line very strongly. The council has put forward its opinions vigorously about the type of quality of design that is in keeping with the streetscape."

Ronnie O'Keeffe, temporary vice-president of the chamber, said he supported the plans for redeveloping Lord Square, but did have concerns about the effect on Church Street: "A blank wall is not going to attract the people that it spent £2.5 million on doing Church Street up for.

"If Church Street is going to be made into a pedestrian street it was going to have to have shops on it. With this plan there isn't."

Arnold Wilcox-Wood, Blackburn Shopping Centre manager, said it was unlikely prospective major retailers will want to have two entrances in their new stores for fear of shoplifting and security.

He added that a compromise between the shops and the council will have to be found.

Mr Wilcox-Wood said: "The council has made its feelings well known to us. It's going to be a matter of compromise somewhere.

"We might find that a particular tenant would like a big entrance on Church Street. It's down to that particular tenant."

However, Mr Wilcox-Wood said that perhaps the biggest entrance to the shopping centre will be in Grosvenor Way, at the top of Church Street.

He also paid tribute to Reit, who have backed the plan despite only taking ownership seven months ago.

He said: "Reit has to be congratulated for this. This will be a magnificent addition to the retail space in Blackburn."