MORE than 4,000 people have signed two petitions opposing plans for a £9million redevelopment of Clitheroe Market.

The two documents, one started by traders and one from the public, are due to be handed into Ribble Valley Borough Council by the early New Year.

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The proposed development by preferred partners Barnfield Construction would see the market space developed with new trading hall, retail units built and a possible hotel in the Station Road area.

Market stallholder and Pendle councillor Eileen Ansar has warned the borough that if it attempts to ‘bulldoze’ the scheme through, it will get ‘the fight of its life’.

Council deputy leader Cllr Terry Hill, who is a member of the Clitheroe Market Area Redevelopment Working Group, said: “This is a draft proposal not a definitive blueprint. It will be amended and changed in response to our six-week consultation before a decision on whether to proceed.”

“There would have to be a full planning application for any scheme which then would go through the normal procedures.”

The scheme features a 60-bed hotel, retail and leisure units, a 56-space car park and revamped market hall. The site would be able to hold 34 cabins and 19 stalls.

The petition organised by market traders has more than 3,000 signatures while the separate public e-petition on change.org has more than 1,300 supporters.

On both petitions a spokesman said: “Whilst the market needs revitalising for all, the proposal on the table does nothing to reflect Clitheroe’s heritage as a historic market town complete with castle, traditional high street and wonderful independent shops.”

Cllr Hill said: “We have held a six-week engagement programme featuring a survey, which has attracted nearly a thousand responses; focus groups with businesses, community groups and schools, and street interviews.

“The point of the engagement programme was to stimulate debate about what could and should be included at the site.

“The response to it has been fantastic and the results will be our central focus as we move forward. Regrettably, the petitions contain significant inaccuracies.”

Cllr Ansar said: “We do not believe the consultation was independent and the initial plan will not be an open market like the current one.”

“If the council and Barnfield try and bulldoze the current proposal through, they will have the fight of their lives on their hands.

“We will go to English Heritage, the Ombudsman and everyone we can think off to stop it.”

A public consultation, run by the council will see results published in the New Year.