LICENSEES have hit out at plans to create a vibrant town centre by "swamping" the area with pubs.

Magistrates have given their approval to a scheme to convert the former home of the Burnley Building Society in Church Street, Blackburn, into a wine bar called Marley's.

The development has still to be approved by Blackburn with Darwen Council's planning committee.

A new pub in the town centre will be in line with council ambitions to make the area attractive for visitors beyond the time when shops close.

But the chairman of the Blackburn Licensed Victuallers Association Geoff Sutcliffe says he is disappointed that yet another town centre licence has been granted, despite objections.

He said: "We have objected to plenty of new licensed premises in the town centre, such as the Weatherspoons, but never to any avail. "There are enough outlets already in the town and it seems there is always some gimmick by those wanting a licence so they can say they are offering something that other town centre outlets aren't offering.

"The cake can only be sliced up so many times and at the moment the slices are getting smaller all the time for licensees. There are only so many customers and so much money to go around."

Toffs, The Blob Shop, The White Bull, The Groves, and Pitchers are within 100 yards of where the new wine bar would be. The Adelphi, The Postal Order and The Star and Garter are also nearby.

However, Blackburn Chamber of Trade spokesman Rita Wakeley claimed it was a sign of a healthy town centre.

"Applications such as this give the town centre real vibrancy and if the go-ahead is given it will be another step towards attracting people from a wide range of age bands into the town centre day and night."

Council chiefs have indicated their ultimate ambition would be to keep the town centre open 24 hours each day and they recently branded magistrates as "out of touch" for refusing the Borough Arms a licence to stay open until 2am.

The whole of Church Street is at the centre of a town centre action plan which the council has drawn up to help the town centre grow.

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