SHOPPERS in Great Harwood look likely to get a new town centre supermarket after more than 4,000 residents cast their votes in Lancashire's first-ever referendum.

The result of the vote to decide whether the Co-op can build a new store in Queen Street was set to be announced this afternoon.

Early indications were that the majority of residents had voted "Yes".

Around 8,000 residents in the town's electoral wards of Netherton and Overton were given the chance to vote on whether Hyndburn Council should sell off land to developers for the new store. Council leader Peter Britcliffe praised the 52 per cent turnout for the vote and pointed out it was the highest turnout in Great Harwood wards for the past decade, with the exception of General Elections.

He said the voter figures justified the £4,000 cost of the referendum.

He told a full council meeting: "This is an excellent turnout for one of the few referendums that has been carried out nationally. This Conservative council is determined to break from the past.

"While some traditionalists have expressed reservations about involving people directly in decision-making, I'm sure this is a glimpse of the future." Development firm Dransfield Properties Ltd recently received backing from Hyndburn Council's planning bosses for the Co-op.

The store would be similar to the one recently built in Ramsbottom and would create around 75 new jobs.

But opponents claimed the proposed store would sound the death-knell for smaller retailers in the town.

The outcome of the ballot must be rubber-stamped by the council's policy and resources committee, which will aim to get a good price for the council land which would be sold.

Although the referendum is not legally binding, Coun Britcliffe has said the committee is unlikely to overturn the people's decision. The Co-op has applied for planning permission to split the town's existing Late Shop into two separate stores, which could be sold to two high street retailers if the Queen Street plan goes ahead.

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