POLICE concerns are shared by local traders, who fear a glut of new night-time pubs will destroy Blackburn's daytime economy.

Blackburn Cathedral's clergy spoke out after plans were submitted to turn two shops into a new super-pub in the town centre, yards from where they are based.

They fear it will encourage more 'undesirable uses' of the cathedral grounds.

Marc Mallam, the cathedral's development manager, said: "The cathedral would want the area to appeal as wide a range of potential users as possible.

"We do not have a problem with the venues which are already here, but to increase on them reduces the other things which can take place in the area.

"More pubs would create a culturally conflicting use immediately opposite the main entrance to the Cathedral possibly leading to intimidation of cathedral users by younger patrons of the pub, especially on weekend evenings.

"It is also likely to create a significant increase in noise, vandalism and litter nuisance. The cathedral already has a problem from both litter, including condoms, needles, bottles and cans, and vandalism on a Saturday night.

"More pubs would just exacerbate the problem."

In Burnley, police have called for restrictions on where pubs are allowed to open. They fear that too many pubs throwing out at the same time can cause problems on the streets.

And concerns have been expressed in Hyndburn that there are now too many pubs in Accrington.

Former mayor Dave Parkins led a campaign to make sure that none of the new shops being created near to the market were allowed to become pubs.

He said: "We have enough in the town at the moment as it is, without any more.

"We want to be attracting more shops into the town, not more places for people to drink.

"We want a wider variety of things going on in the town, not just pubs. They cause a lot of problems."

The issue of pubs and clubs taking over town centres has also concerned the Blackburn and district chamber of trade.

They have supported the redevelopment of two shops in Darwen Street into a pub on the condition that the venue opens during the day as well as night.

The Dean of Blackburn, the very rev Christopher Armstrong added: "We already have a situation where some pubs only open on a Friday and Saturday night and that isn't good for the rest of the area during the week."

Civic societies are also concerned with the growing number of pubs in town centres.

The Blackburn and District Civic Society wrote to the council in opposition of the new Darwen Street venue.

They state that the new venue would be out-of-keeping with the area, saying many big pubs are.

They too are also concerned at the effect it will have on its surrounds, especially if it is not open all the time.

Councillors hoping to regenerate nearby Church Street also expressed concern when a new pub opened on the newly-pedestrianised street.

Called Liquid, it became the third pub on the street to only open on weekend nights, possible affecting the impact of the street once it is completed.