A THIRD supermarket could deal a knockout blow to Atherton's town centre trade.

Traders' champions fear such a store would effectively become a barrier dissuading shoppers from venturing further in to town.

Atherton Traders' Group chairman Jean Hart warned: "Over the last few years Atherton has faced a period of increasing competition from other centres and new out-of-town developments. The vitality of the town centre is dependent on residents of Hag Fold. The introduction of a supermarket at this location will provide a barrier between the estate and town centre."

She also fears traffic congestion problems and problems for nearby residents and police. Cllr Reg Holmes, himself a Hag Fold resident, highlighted traffic problems he envisaged if store development was approved. He also felt town centre business would suffer.

Atherton Cllr Sue Loudon, local representative on Wigan Council's development control committee, supports the view that high street shopping would suffer. This week she and Cllr Holmes asked fellow planners to take a closer look at the site before making a decision.

The applicants want to demolish buildings in the north east corner of the mill site, fill in a lodge and create a single storey store with 875 square metres of floor space plus car park space.

Cllr Loudon warned: "I am very concerned because of the effect this could have on the viability of the town centre."

Those fears are shared by traders' representative Annette Root who is town centres co-ordinator covering Atherton, Hindley, Tyldesley and Ashton. Development committee members will now visit the mill site before making a decision.