RIVAL bids for a disused supermarket in Burnley have put businesses and politicians in two opposing camps.

Peter Pike MP and council leader Coun Stuart Caddy have said they would prefer to see a new Job Centre on the site of the old Co-op superstore in Curzon Street.

But Stannifer, the company which last year bought the Curzon Street and Charter Walk shopping areas, also has plans for the site.

It wants to extend Burnley's shopping district by demolishing the empty supermarket and building new shops at the end of Curzon Street. And it has been backed by the Chamber of Trade and the privately-funded town centre managers. A plan from the Government's Job Centre Plus will see the existing Job Centre in Bankfield closed and replaced with a new hi-tech base at the Curzon Street site, which is for sale. The plans include:

A public entrance, reception and self-service area which will provide people with direct access to job vacancies via the internet.

An interview area for people to receive advice on both job opportunities and the benefits process.

A call centre operation that will handle telephone calls about claims and general enquiries.

According to Stannifer, its plans would breath new life into Burnley's shopping districts and transform the town centre.

Mr Pike said: "I support the Job Centre Plus bid. I am not against the Stannifer proposals, but nobody has presented anything on paper to show me what they are talking about is a reality rather than an aspiration. Whereas the Job Centre Plus would be a flagship site for Burnley and East Lancashire.

"It would also be better than the one that already exists in Blackburn and has the potential to be up and running by early next year.

"It would be a first class facility for the town and the Government has agreed to make the finance for the project available." Mr Pike was backed by Coun Caddy, who said that the Job Centre Plus plans will be a boost for Burnley.

But Chamber of Trade secretary, Rita Walsh, said: "Our objective is to keep the site reserved for retail use. Another consideration is that part of the Job Centre Plus bid includes office space. Burnley has a lot of prime office suites, like the newly refurbished Safeway House in Centenary Way, that is lying empty." Her sentiments have been echoed by Burnley's town centre management team. Head of the team, Lisa Durkin, is putting together a report which will be sent to the council.

She said: "I don't oppose the Job Centre Plus bid, but I can't support it in that location -- we need to keep it for retail use."

According to Mrs Durkin Burnley has two options for the future. "The first is not to create additional retail space and with towns like Blackburn, Burnley, Bury and Preston investing, Burnley will get left behind.

"The second is to ensure that the Co-op site, which is the last key retail development space in Burnley, redeveloped and to advance the town's profile."

Paul Blyth, development manager for Stannifer, sees their proposed development as key to the future of Burnley.

He said: "Stannifer continues to believe that there is great potential for retail on the Co-op site and we have been working hard, with the support of the council, to create a combined civic gateway and shopping development here."