Ex-Kwik Save may be health centre

11:15am Monday 25th September 2006

A FORMER supermarket in Pendle could be turned into a new health centre.

Councillors have been in talks with bosses at Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Primary Care Trust (PCT) about setting up health facilities in the abandoned Kwik Save, in Craddock Road, Colne.

The building has stood empty since its closure in March.

The PCT is now setting its budget for the next financial year and is investigating the site as part of its healthcare development plans.

However, a spokesman for the health trust said: "There are no firm plans at all and we have to take a broad view across the whole of East Lancashire about our priorities and expenditure plans.

"It is still far too early to say what other schemes will be put forward."

Fears that the prime town centre site could be turned into homes prompted the then Mayor, Coun Sharon Davies, to promise she would fight any housing development.

The store closed with the loss of 16 jobs after owners Somerfield sold 171 Kwik Saves to BTTF.

However, 77 other stores including Colne's were snapped up by mystery buyers, prompting fears that the Craddock Street site could be turned into housing.

The new owners were eventually revealed as St Modwen Properties Plc.

Michelle Taylor, north west regional director for St Modwen, said at the time that they would announce their plans in due course.

The firm also bought other sites in Bolton and Wythenshawe, Manchester.