RETAIL bosses are planning to widen a controversial new store in Barrowford.

North West-based Booths supermarket wants a number of changes to the plans for the site of Park Mill and the former Pendle Brook House care home, Halstead Lane, off Gisburn Road.

Bosses confirmed they had acquired a strip of land forming part of the White Bear car park, which will allow them to improve the shape of the store by increasing its width, reducing its depth and enlarging the rear service yard.

The capacity of the remaining White Bear car park will remain virtually unchanged.

John Pope, chairman of Barrowford Parish Council, said he hoped requests made by residents at the last meeting of Pendle Council’s Barrowford with Western Parishes Committee would be reflected in the new designs.

He said: “One thing we asked was for them to consider solar energy or any sustainable energy system.

“We also asked if there was some way that the public could use their toliets because the ones down the road are under threat. These things on board.”

Permission for the new store was granted by Pendle Council more than a year ago, despite opposition from residents and traders, who had concerns over the impact on traffic and small businesses in the village.

Work is set to commence on realigning the culvert which runs under the Park Mill site in the coming days.