TRADERS have claimed a key victory in the battle over the redevelopment of a town's outdoor market.

Ribble Valley councillors have made a u-turn over plans to build a hotel at the centre of a £9million plan for Clitheroe Market.

The council were forced to reopen a consultation into the controversial plans after residents and traders expressed concern.

The council’s policy and finance committee have now set up a steering group, which will be led by council leader, Cllr Ken Hind.

Cllr Hind said the group had listened to the response of the consultation and as a result scrapped hotel plans.

He said: “The consultation revealed support for the redevelopment of Clitheroe town centre with a modern market at its heart, but in response to public opinion the scheme will now not include a hotel.”

Features of the new scheme may include a link to the market from Castle Street, a market hall, outdoor market, approximately 45,000 square feet of shops, restaurants, bars and leisure facilities, a public open space or community hub and a car park.

Despite the new scheme not including a hotel Clitheroe market traders have raised concerns over proposals to create a market hall.

Clitheroe market trader Jane Baron said: “I am very pleased the hotel has been scrapped but I am still concerned that there is not enough input from people like ourselves and the people in this town.

“The traders simply do not want a market hall. Again it is the council locking themselves away and not involving the traders and residents throughout this process."

“We would like a lot more involvement in the future.”

Clitheroe market trader Eileen Ansar, who is also a Pendle councillor, said: “The fact that they have got rid of the hotel is excellent news but now it relates to what they want to do with the market.

“This is not a victory this is just the start. Until these revised proposals come back to us then we won’t stop.

“It is not a victory in any sense, it is common sense that has prevailed.

“We want to know what is happening and want to have more involvement with it.”

Cllr Ian Brown, who lives in Clitheroe, said: “At the moment I am glad the council have listened to the people of the Ribble Valley.

“I hope we can do something that everybody is proud of and most people will enjoy.

The council have said they hope new scheme will be unveiled by the end of this year.