A LEADING department store looks set to become the £1 million big name in the planned Accrington town centre shopping development.

Hyndburn Council is not disclosing the company - rumoured to be discount operator TJ Hughes plc - but confirmed that a retailer had agreed terms with developers Arrowcroft for a two-storey, 35,000 sq ft store and instructed solicitors to draft legal agreements.

Market traders say the council has confirmed to them that TJ Hughes is the company negotiating with Arrowcroft but Tony Potter, finance director of the Liverpool-based company, said today: "Accrington is a town we have looked at in the past and would be interested in.

"But we have not agreed terms, are not currently in negotiation and have no concrete plan at present to open a store in Accrington."

Market traders say a big discount store, selling everything from fashion to household goods, will put existing shops and traders out of business.

Chairman Greg Jopson said: "It could have a devastating effect."

Mr Jopson said traders were also alarmed over a possible re-phasing of the town centre redevelopment to complete building work in little more than 12 months instead of 18 months.

That would mean more than 80 traders temporarily re-locating from the outdoor market on to Broadway for several months before a permanent move into the proposed glazed pavilion.

Mr Jopson said: "There isn't enough room on Broadway and we don't feel it's workable to carry on business successfully."

The market traders are now planning an open meeting at the Berkley, inviting the Chamber of Trade, council officers and councillors to discuss the latest proposals.

Hyndburn's director of development services Nigel Rix said: "It would be premature and potentially damaging to make a damning judgement about a particular department store on the basis of one person's opinion.

"In the end there will be no scheme if the council and Arrowcroft do not find an anchor trader. There is significant concern about the future of the market if that does not happen."

Mr Rix said the retailer concerned proposed investing around £1 million fitting out the store and up to 100 jobs would be created.

The store wanted to be open by October 1998, to catch Christmas trade or Easter 1999, and the council was now exploring with traders the implications of the two options.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.