A NEW row has broken out over Darwen’s former three-day market hall after a senior borough councillor branded it ‘ramshackle’.

Regeneration boss Cllr Phil Riley made the comment at Blackburn with Darwen Council's budget meeting.

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He was defending his decision to shut it after Conservative group leader Cllr John Slater cited the controversial closure as an example of council mismanagement and waste.

Cllr Riley told the meeting: “I cannot believe the Conservative Party are still going on about Darwen three-day market.

“There was nothing we could do with this ramshackle building and all the comments that I have had from traders have been positive about the change.

“When I spoke to several of them who had moved to the six-day market hall and are very happy.

“We are working on a set of proposals for the site which will be discussed at Darwen Town Centre Partnership Board in the middle of March.”

Fernhurst councillor Denise Gee, whose family ran a fruit and vegetable stall on the three-day market for many years, told Cllr Riley: “I must object to your description of the three-day market hall as ramshackle. Whose fault is that?

“The building was owned by the borough council, traders paid their fees and rent and it was allowed to fall into disrepair despite their representations.”

Borough finance boss Cllr Andy Kay defended Cllr Riley saying: “This is a 1970s concrete building affected by damaging chemical reactions like many others.”

The building is empty and no planning application to demolish it can proceed without alternative plans being in place for the site as it is in a ‘conservation area’.

Cllr Gee said: “Trader like my parents paid their rent and maintenance fees to the council who did nothing an let it fall into disrepair so they could close and demolish it.

“I was a traders' representative and we asked the council to do something and they did not.

“The problems were caused by Blackburn with Darwen Council’s neglect of the building.”

Sunnyhurst Labour councillor Dave Smith said: “I think Cllr Gee’s view of the three-day market is motivated more by sentiment that practicality.”