SHOPKEEPERS in Clitheroe have claimed the market town will become a clone' of other places if a new DIY superstore was built.

The claim came from the town's Chamber of Trade after town planners recommended approval for a Homebase store on the former Rectella site in Queensway.

If given the go-ahead at a planning meeting tomorrow, the store will cover 3,000 square metres and will have an associated garden centre taking up 735 square metres.

The site, which will also have 115 car parking spaces, backs on to Clitheroe's Sainsburys supermarket and would be linked to Queensway by a new mini-roundabout.

Terry Joy, chairman of Clitheroe Chamber of Trade, said: "We will have to see which way councillors vote.

"But, supermarkets have already led to the decline of butchers, grocers and green-grocers in the town. This superstore could have the same effect on non-food retailers and we worry for certain shops in the town.

"We don't want Clitheroe, which is known for its individual shops, to become a clone of other places."

Planning officers recommended approval after reading the findings of an independent retail assessment survey which said the store would attract around 75 per cent of shoppers living in and around Clitheroe.

Research was carried out in a catchment area 10 minutes' drive from the proposed site off the inner bypass with 500 interviewees asked where they last bought tools, paint, timber, doors, plumbing goods, furniture, lighting and gardening supplies.

It concluded that there is a lack of DIY/bulky goods stores in Clitheroe and that significant numbers of people choose to travel elsewhere to such stores.

It said the store would not only bring shoppers back to Clitheroe but also benefit existing independent traders.

Ribble Valley Council's planning committee will discuss the application in the Council Chambers, Church Street, Clitheroe, at 7pm.