A RETAILER was accused of showing 'no regard' for Bacup after pulling out of plans to demolish its redundant store and redevelop the site for car parking.

Chairman of the Corporate Policy Committee Coun John Holt said: "They have shown no regard for the town. Its disgraceful."

The committee agreed to actively pursue the Co-op to do something about its former building off Union Street and if not Rossendale Council should pursue compulsory purchase.

The Co-op had originally planned to develop its Bacup base and demolition of the former now derelict store was part of that project.

Chief executive Steven Hartley said: "I have received notification that they don't want to proceed with the project. The Co-op is not going to proceed because of a review of market conditions."

Coun Margaret Talukdar said: "Obviously I am disappointed but it is not totally unexpected.

"We really have to get something moving and we should give a sub-committee delegated powers to discuss the future. They have done nothing since the place was vacated and it is coming into a state of disrepair." Rats and other vermin have been seen in the place, said Coun Jimmy Eaton.

He said: "I was hopeful that it would be pulled down and we have a car park there. In the interests of the people of Bacup I would like to see that course of action as soon as possible.

"That can only be of benefit to the town centre."

David Short, United Norwest PR manager for the food group, said: "The reason which we are not proceeding with the application is we have been in the process of acquiring it over a period of four years and during that time the competition in the food retailing has been escalating dramatically.

"Four years ago the proposal would have been a viable one for us but it is no longer viable proposition bearing in mind the level of investment needed for what we were proposing. There is also further retail development planned in Rawtenstall."

He said he was reserving comment on the Co-op's other premises in Union Street until he had received information from the council.