ST ANNES councillors are urging Safeway to submit expansion plans which could see the town's prized Ashton Gardens refurbished and surrounding streets re-vamped.

After a marathon five-hour meeting yesterday (Wednesday) with Safeway's planners, Fylde Council's St Annes Working Group insisted if the company wants a slice of Ashton Gardens, it must enhance the whole park and nearby streets as well as replace two bowling greens, which would disappear under a car park. The supermarket group's proposals, which are also understood to include the sites of St Annes Casino, police station and a car saleroom, aroused controversy even before a planning application has been submitted, with a petition and scores of protest letters.

But some councillors see the plans as a kick-start for a much-needed regeneration of the town centre. Safeway has promised an exhibition of its plans so the public can submit their views before a final decision is made.

The meeting was necessary for both sides to understand each other's positions before Safeway comes back with a formal application.

In a statement, the council said: "The working party carefully considered the ideas and agreed to recommend the planning committee that Safeway be encouraged to proceed further with the planning of the proposal, including the enhancement of Ashton Gardens and several of the surrounding streets in order that the council and public could make informed views on the proposals.

"Should the scheme go forward it was anticipated that some land within Ashton Gardens would be required for the car parking proposals, but facilities lost would be replaced to modern standards within an overall refurbishment scheme for the whole of the gardens."

The working party, it added, also took into account the overall potential benefits to the town centre and the long-standing importance of Ashton Gardens for recreation.

Not all St Annes councillors are believed to agree with the decision.

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