AMBITIOUS plans for a flagship supermarket for Darwen have been put on hold after councillors failed to decide on what offer to accept.

Both Sainsburys and the Co-op have put in bids for the Redearth Road site and a decision will now be made at an emergency Policy and Resources Committee meeting next Thursday.

The council say that both options have serious drawbacks and have had to delay its decision after receiving some late information prior to last Tuesday's meeting.

The Co-op has submitted a bid for a smaller store which councillors say could have a considerable impact on the town's existing food stores - including Hanburys which is owned by United Norwest Co-operatives Ltd which also owns the Co-op. Other stores in the town that could be affected include Netto and Kwiksave.

Sainsbury's more ambitious plans are likely to attract shoppers to the town from surrounding areas. But the stumbling block is that they could not build its store solely on council-owned property and would need to purchase privately owned land which the council do not favour. The council has also received two telephone enquiries for other interested parties and say the possibility of other interest could not be ruled out.

Councillor leader Malcolm Doherty, chairman of the committee, said: "The report had been referred to a special meeting next week because we received some late information which has to be discussed in full before we can make a final decision."

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