PLANS to redevelop the top of the Blackburn old market site as a high quality shopping development have been temporarily abandoned by the council.

Now Town Hall bosses are looking at turning it into a short-term car park or performance/leisure space.

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Chamber of Trade President Tony Duckworth has suggested using part of the site as a skateboarding park after concerns about unofficial use of the new Cathedral Quarter by fans of for the sport.

As demolition of the adjoining Exchange Building on Ainsworth Street gets under way, Blackburn with Darwen council has admitted efforts to bring a high-quality retailer to the Brown Street end of former market hall site have failed.

The council bought the freehold of the building, formerly headquarters of its children’s services department, to include in the site.

Plans to market the land, used as a temporary bus station, were hit by the 15 month delay to the new £4.7million public transport hub at the Salford end of the site, and a downturn in the retail sector.

In his report to the boroughs full Council Forum tonight, regeneration boss, Cllr Phil Riley, said: “Work is under way to review progress and future options for use and development of the Blackburn Markets site.

“This will include consideration of short-term uses as well as redevelopment options.”

Council finance boss, Cllr Andy Kay, who employed Manchester firm Northpoint Developments in 2014 to persuade a major retail player to develop the site, said: “We are now looking again at all, the options for this land in the long and short-term.

“Our hopes to getting a major ‘high-quality big box’ retailer on the site quickly have diminished.

“We are looking at using it as a temporary car park possibly with a performance/leisure space in the interim.

“Demolition of the Exchange Building, formerly the headquarters of the council children’ s services department, is now well under way with completion between October and the end of the year.”

Tory regeneration spokesman, Cllr Derek Hardman said: “It is disappointing they have not found a buyer for the site because of delays to the new bus station.

“I don’t think we need a new car park and they should look at a more creative short-term use for the site.”

Mr Duckworth said: “It would be ideal for the new skatepark that has been discussed, possibly with some car parking as well.”

Harriet Roberts, manager for the Blackburn Business Improvement District, said: “If we were to have a new town centre skatepark, this would be a potential site.”