MORE than half of people in Clitheroe don't think a redevelopment of the town's historic market is needed, a consultation has revealed.

Ribble Valley Borough Council held a consultation into its £9million controversial plans for the 900-year-old site.

The proposal features a 60-bed hotel, retail and leisure units, a 56-space car park and a three-storey market hall.

A report on the consultation has shown 61 per cent of respondents who live in the town disagreed that the redevelopment site would be important, with 79 per cent saying a hotel was not wanted.

One in five people indicated nothing needed to change about the town, with 89 per cent saying they were very or quite satisfied with Clitheroe as a place to visit.

However, 70 per cent of respondents under the age of 35 were positive about the idea of new shops and restaurants and three quarters of people highlighted the need for increased parking.

Cllr Ian Brown, borough and county councillor for Clitheroe and a member of the market redevelopment working group, said: "It is clear that from this consultation people are not interesting in having a 60-bed hotel and we in the working group need to come up with some new recommendations for the council.

"I want to make sure my residents are happy and we need to get this right for them.

"The council does have good intentions but it seems that the hotel in particular is not something people want and that needs to be resolved."

A total of 30 out of 62 businesses and organisations agreed with the importance of the redevelopment with comments suggesting it would attract more visitors and keep Clitheroe 'up with the times'.

Meanwhile, 26 businesses disagreed with the majority worried that the town could lost its 'market town identity'.

More than a third of respondents commented on the need for more shops and places to eat.

Council deputy leader Cllr Terry Hill said: “The response to the engagement programme has been fantastic and we are delighted that so many people have made their views known.

“The council commissioned the survey, so it would be better informed in making a decision on the best way forward for the proposed scheme and we will be taking the survey results into account, along with feedback from a number of focus groups."