A DECISION on a possible £9milllion development of Clitheroe’s historic market is set to be made next month, it has been announced.

Ribble Valley Borough Council’s policy and finance committee will meet to discuss the controversial project on Tuesday, June 27.

A plan has been drawn up by the authority, along with Barnfield Construction, to build a hotel, a three-storey market hall, new retail units and a 56-space car park on the site that dates back to Norman times.

The council, which owns the land, will decide next month what the project should include and who it wants to construct it.

If it is all voted through, a formal planning application could then be published by the end of the year.

Since first being revealed, the potential scheme has met with opposition from traders on the market as well as people who live in and around the town.

A public meeting held in October, attended by around 100 people, also saw almost unanimous opposition to building a hotel.

Cllr Ken Hind, the leader of the council, said: “We are going to build something that will protect Clitheroe as a market town and create a legacy that we can be proud of in the future.

“The council’s working group is looking at successful markets across the North West including Altrincham and Chorley to see what we can learn.

“We are going to press ahead with this plan.”

In March a council-lead consultation showed 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 highlighted the need for increased parking.