A SUPERMARKET’S bosses may reconsider investing in Accrington town centre if a controversial Tesco store is allowed to be built.

Sainsbury’s have issued a statement saying it, and other retailers, ‘may think twice’ before investing in a £15million exp-ansion of the Arndale Centre, Accrington, if a decision by Hyndburn Council to grant Tesco planning permission is not overturned.

This comes after discussions with Sainsbury’s and bosses at the Arndale Centre, Accrington, had reached an ‘encouraging stage.’ But asset manager of the Arndale Centre, Accrington, Ray James, said he understood why Sainsbury’s may pull out because the £32million, 88,000 sq ft Tesco store, off Eagle Street, would ‘crucify’ the town centre.

Jo Try, northern development executive for Sainsbury’s said: “The Accrington Town Centre Area Action Plan calls for the strengthening of the town centre and Sainsbury’s supports this in Accrington.

“By granting permission for such a large Tesco the town suffers a double whammy: Other retailers, including Sainsbury’s, may think twice about investing in the town centre and any plans for a revitalised Arndale Centre may also suffer for the same reason.

“Shoppers lose choice and Accrington misses an opportunity to strengthen its town centre.”

Mr James said: “I understand why they might reconsider. Tesco will have a large site in the town.

“It is a big store people will buy their week’s shopping from then visit the homeware department, the toy department before going into Accrington town centre.

“The Tesco store will crucify the town centre. It is fundamentally wrong on every level.

“Hyndburn Council’s heart is in the right place because it will create 400 jobs but they are the wrong type of jobs.

“If the plans had been rejected by the council Tesco alongside Sainsbury’s could have come to us as part of our expansion plans.”

Arndale Centre bosses have asked the Government Office North West, to do all they can to overturn Hyndburn Borough Cou-ncil’s decison to approve the store for Eagle Street.

The planning inspector’s resp-onse is thought to be due within a matter of weeks.

He will either decide to scrut-inise the planning application further, leave the decision as it is, or ask for more time to reach a conclusion.

If the store gets the go-ahead, Tesco will pump almost £1.5million into the local economy.