SUPERMARKET giant Sainsbury’s has handed over £400,000 to pay for improvements to Colne town centre.

When Pendle Council’s Colne Committee granted permission for the new large Sainsbury’s superstore off North Valley Road, councillors stipulated that the company would have to pay for a programme of improvements as part of a legal Section 106 agreement.

Town hall bosses have now drawn up a list of schemes to spend the money on, which they are asking the committee to approve.

The proposed schemes include improvements to the bus station toilets, costing an estimated £32,000, as well as £30,000 projects in front of Colne Library and at the top of Dockray Street.

Borough planning officers are also proposing a sum of £20,000 be spent on improvements to the area in front of the Jobcentre Plus building and the external appearance of Colne Arcade, both in Market Street.

Smaller projects would see £10,000 spent on lighting, signs and seating at the Market Street car park, £8,750 on new signs in the shopping area and £5,000 for the Colne in Bloom committee.

The Sainsbury’s development has been at the centre of controversy since the plans were unveiled more than two years ago, with residents and councillors raising concerns about its impact on traffic and town centre traders.

But Vivary Bridge Coun Howard Thomas said he hoped the £390,500 would soften the blow to those against the plans.

He said: “The idea is to try to reduce the negative impact it could have on the town and boost the positives.

“What we have looked at in the first instance is public realm improvements which will brighten the area up.”

Councillors on the Colne Committee are also being asked whether they would like to see any of the money spent on providing new bus stops, sprucing up the exterior of Shackleton Hall in Church Street or installing new street around the town.

Colne Committee will meet at Colne Town Hall at 7pm on Thursday.