DELAYS bringing a second Lidl store to Blackburn could be resolved.

Blackburn with Darwen Council’s planning committee voted to defer a decision on permission for the proposed new store on Furthergate last month.

The firm has earmarked a historic garage site in Blackburn for its second town store, with blueprints drawn up for Fix Auto, formerly known as Gillibrands, which has been trading from the Furthergate Works since 1859.

A full planning application for the “multi-million pound investment” was lodged with Blackburn with Darwen Council in October.

And members had initially been recommended to approve the development at a town hall meeting.

But planning manager Gavin Prescott told councillors some unresolved highways issues meant the application should be deferred until the next meeting so Lidl could make further representations.

Previous concerns over a secondary exit to Cherry Street had been overcome but highways bosses were still not satisfied about the safety of vehicles turning right onto Furthergate at the St Clements Street junction.

A new report set to go before the meeting on May 29 details how the issue has been overcome.

Director of growth and development Martin Kelly said an alternative exit will be available from the store car park directly onto Cherry Street.

Mr Kelly added this would be an effective alternative to traffic exiting on St Clements Street and help ease pressure on the Furthergate junction, particularly for vehicles turning right.

And the store car park, which will have 117 spaces, will be available for use by parents picking up and dropping off children at St Thomas' Primary School in Newton Street.

Mr Kelly said: “The applicant’s offer is welcomed, as it will alleviate congestion currently experienced on St Clements Street, on account that off-street parking for school traffic is not currently available within the Fix Auto site.

“It should be recognised that Lidl are not obliged to offer availability of their car park and that the volume of school traffic is a pre-existing circumstance that the council cannot arbitrarily impose responsibility on the applicant to cater for.

“The applicant has confirmed that, whilst school traffic will be allowed to park on the store car park on an informal basis, the situation will be internally monitored to establish whether school traffic is having a negative effect on customer parking capacity.

“If so, right is reserved to restrict parking to customers only.”

Members are recommended to approve the application, clearing the way for development to begin.

Lidl bosses say the new store, including a bakery, would create 40 jobs.

Lidl already has a store in Whalley Banks in the town.