THE fight for the right to have increased shopping facilities in Carnforth goes on for two women. Single mum Amanda Atkinson, 29, and Jackie Mackay, 41, have collected nearly 2,500 signatures from the people of Carnforth in support of a new Safeway supermarket. They claim it will improve shopping in the area and could create up to 150 jobs. Meanwhile, Booths have submitted plans for a major extension which will also go before the planning committee on June 15.

"I'm a single mum and what got me riled was when the new government went on about getting part time jobs," said Amanda, "I would love a job, but it's not easy as a single mum, one of these jobs at the supermarket would be perfect.

"Another thing is the shopping. I have to rely on my parents taking me to Asda, but I've met old people who can't get out there at all.

"The place where they want to build it at Land Lodge Quarry near the Spar, is completely derelict, gets flooded and is ridden with rats."

The planning committee originally refused the first application from Safeway in December on the grounds that it was detrimental to the vitality of the existing town centre of Carnforth, was an out of centre development, contrary to the Carnforth Local Plan and that all alternative possibilities had not been investigated.

But Amanda insisted that the supermarket would be a less than 10 minute walk from the town centre and was on three major bus routes.

In December a petition of 505 signatures was submitted to the council opposing the plan, although 120 letters were sent in support.

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