PEOPLE protesting against plans to close town centre roads have been given extra time to make their objections -- so council bosses aren't accused of rushing the scheme through.

The move came as Morrisons supermarket bosses denied they were objecting to plans to close Blackburn's Church Street to through traffic because of their own "vested interest".

Supermarket bosses also called on the council to provide a "detailed review" of their alternative Cathedral Loop scheme which they say provides similar benefits to the council's plans for Church Street "with none of the disadvantages" and keeps Church Street open one way for traffic travelling east towards Morrisons store.

Opponents to Blackburn with Darwen Council's plans to change the traffic regulation orders on Church Street and nearby roads as part of the town centre action plan now have until Friday January 5 to make their views known.

Roger Owen, property director for the supermarket chain Morrisons, said council regeneration boss Coun Ashley Whalley's claims that the store would benefit from the action plan proved store bosses had the best interests of the town at heart in opposing the scheme.

Mr Owen said: "Coun Ashley Whalley says our store will benefit from an enhanced position within the council's redevelopment proposals. Why then do we object so strongly?

"It is because we genuinely believe that town centre trade will be at risk as a consequence of the council's proposals." He added: "We certainly have a 'vested interest' in ensuring the implementation of the best scheme for maintaining the future prosperity of the whole town centre."

He said Coun Ashley Whalley's accusation the supermarket has a "vested interest" showed "a significant lack of understanding of the strength of local feeling".

He said: "There is no traffic strategy argument supporting the council's proposals for Church Street and their regeneration strategy argument for imposing the Church Street traffic orders is not supported by their own consultants."

He said their alternative offered a "viable alternative" which met local traders' needs and "the requirements of regeneration".

But Coun Ashley Whalley said: "Morrisons is a private company whose loyalty clearly must lie with its shareholders, as is the case with all other private businesses."

Coun Whalley said his department had looked carefully at Morrisons alternative traffic scheme, but said it would "not bring the benefits to Church Street that will accrue from the council's regeneration proposal".

He also said almost £5 million given to the council to extend Barbara Castle Way and carry out other road improvements and repairs meant those travelling from the west of the town towards Morrisons would find their journey time reduced.