MORE than 100 letters objecting to plans to build a Booths supermarket in Barrowford have been received by the borough council.

Objections include fears over increased traffic, the threat to the existing business in the town and the impact on nearby residential areas.

Lancashire County Council Highways engineers have also picked out a number of concerns about the plans, including loss of parking, poor cycle access and the location of the service yard gates following fears the store would be too close to the main A682 Gisburn Road.

Two letters have also been sent to the council supporting the scheme for the 13,000sq ft store, and 85-space car park, at the former Pendle Brook Care Home and Park Mill, off Gisburn Road.

Those in favour of the scheme say it will bring 120 jobs, benefit local businesses as the store only sells local produce and strengthen the town as a trading centre.

The scheme - on the site of a former care home - is for a three-storey store with a basement car park of 50 spaces on the lower ground floor and the shop and a 64-seat cafe area on the upper ground floor.

The first floor would house stockrooms and office space.

Barrowford parish council has registered no objections to the development, but does have concerns over some of the architecture, including the planned tower feature being out of character.

Graham Booth, property director for the Booths chain, said it was important to consult the residents.

He said: "We want to hear what the local community has to say, so that we can further develop the scheme to ensure that it complements the unique character of Barrowford."

The plans will be discussed at a meeting of the Barrowford and Western Parishes Committee on January 4.