COUNCIL chiefs have insisted 'proper consultation' has started over the redevelopment of an East Lancs town.

Rivals have claimed regeneration talks for Colne, with Pendle Council partner PEARL, are not being held in the same way as earlier regeneration schemes, such as Brierfield Mill, or the current Nelson Town Deal scheme.

Around £6.5m has been earmarked for Colne under the government's 'levelling up' efforts, which should see an overhaul of the town's market hall and three theatres. But there is a deadline to submit plans.

Liberal Democrat Cllr David Whipp told the borough's policy and resources committee: "There has been a departure in the way PEARL has been operating regards Colne Market Hall.

"Previous joint ventures were open and inclusive, and tried to engage people. But there has been intransigence from the current (Tory) administration and from PEARL involving Colne.

“I suggested at the last PEARL board meeting that there should be formal consultation with Colne Town Council.  Yet my idea failed to find any support from the board. 

"In contrast,  we have a link with Nelson Town Council for the Nelson Town Deal. Yet there is a refusal to include Colne Town Council. It is a departure from how we have operated for years."

But Conservative Cllr Ash Sutcliffe, who runs a business in Colne town centre and is on a new market forum, a Pendle Council sub-committee, said consultation was happening.

He said: “The forum was set up because the plans are larger than just the market hall. At the last forum meeting, there were four Colne town councillors, which is a substantial number.

"These are public meetings which anyone can attend.  Colne Town Council is also a statutory consultee and regularly consulted on things such as plans. We have regular discussions and I don’t know what more can be done.”

And council leader Cllr Nadeem Ahmed said Colne Town Council’s chairman was invited to recent meetings linked to the market hall.

Cllr Whipp added: "“Inviting the town council chairman to Colne market forums is not the same as inviting all the members of Nelson Town Council to meetings about proposals for the wider redevelopment of Colne.

"There is talk about a cinema, changing traffic flows and other ramifications. This is about more than just the market.”

Julie Whittaker, the officer behind the PEARL report, told councillors they had hoped to undertake consultation in June but traders had expressed concerns and "these things take longer than expected",

Lib-Dem Cllr Dorothy Lord, who chaired the previous Colne Market Panel for 12 years, added: “From the market traders’ perspective, it’s a bit of a shambles.

"The indoor market hall units were 90 per cent full in recent times, compared with 45 per cent full three years ago.

"But since this new redevelopment idea started, five traders have left.  They are jumping ship because it is so confusing. There are so many rumours. The first forum meeting was a bit of a car crash but then some traders seemed a bit happier with more recent plans. But the whole town should be involved now. Not waiting.”

The committee formally voted to note the report and update on developments.