BOSSES at Pendle Council have met the developers of a new Nelson shopping centre to end problems which are crippling local traders.

And more meetings are planned to iron out the problems.

The Pendle Rise development in Nelson town centre, which is being carried out by Barnfield Construction, has sparked a catalogue of complaints from traders as shoppers have stayed away from the town centre.

Pendle Council's director of services, John Kirk, has admitted the authority is "seriously unhappy" with aspects of development work in Nelson town centre.

He has told councillors that elements of site management at the controversial Pendle Rise extension were a cause for concern. At a meeting of the council's Nelson Committee, Mr Kirk said officers had met the developers, Manchester-based Modus, to ease the problems and more meetings were planned.

Mr Kirk said specific problems were the number of vehicle movements and the fact that hoardings next to Woolworth's had not been moved.

The main entrance to the centre is blocked off and hoardings prevent access to part of the Place du Creil, where new stores will be built.

Town Centre Forum chairman John Clancy, co-opted on to the Nelson Committee, said the work had been the main item for discussion at the forum's monthly meeting.

Residents had expressed concerns about disabled access to the centre and safety.

Peter McFarlane, of Modus, had attended the meeting and said his company was keen for the development to benefit traders and shoppers and wanted to work in partnership for the revitalisation of the town centre.

Council leader Coun Alan Davies has previously invited traders affected by the works to write to him, suggesting rate relief could be used to alleviate the pressures.