A BUSINESSMAN is setting out to transform a street full of takeaways into a "premier" shopping venue for Blackburn.

Mark Smith is looking to buy stores on Darwen Street and is refusing to rent them out to fast food takeaway outlets, claiming there are already too many.

His claim has been backed up by the manager of a fast food restaurant, who predicted a fall in the number of takeaways.

Mr Smith, who owns and runs Exchange Coffee House on Fleming Square, already owns a number of shops in Darwen Street, including an empty former fried chicken restaurant.

A sign on the door says it will be let to a "quality business" like a flower store, shoe shop or jeweller, but not a takeaway.

Mr Smith, who is working under the banner of Fleming Heritage, said: "We don't need any more takeaways.

"We need something that helps the people around it, like individual quality shops.

"That's the only way we will get individual, quality shoppers.

"Takeaways do cover a need for a certain time of the day, but that's not the time that other shops want people around.

"My honest opinion is we have more than enough."

He claimed that the nucleus of Blackburn town centre was shifting towards Darwen Street, close to the soon-to-be-revamped shopping cnetre.

And he said he has had regular inquiries from tenants around Penny Street and Sudell Cross looking to move.

And the arrival of new businesses would increase the value of his portfolio.

He added: "What I am trying to do is make a shop attractive to new business or a relocating business.

"I think Darwen Street could be a premier street in Blackburn - we have still got the buildings to work with.

"It's all about fitting the right person to the right premises."

Idris Hasan, manager of Oasis fast food, in Darwen Street, said it would be "very hard" to transform Darwen Street into a shopping venue.

But he said the decline in the pub trade would lead to a natural reduction in takeaways in Blackburn.

He added: "There are too many takeaways at the moment.

"We are all struggling because when it comes to night time Blackburn is very quiet."

Phil Ainsworth, who runs a jewellery store in Darwen Street, said: "Takeaways have their place, but I would like to see a choice of shops on Darwen Street.

"What Mark is trying to is do up shops and turn them into the sort of variety that a thriving shopping street needs."

Colin Rigby, the leader of Blackburn with Darwen council, said: "Right now Darwen Street isn't the centre of town, and I don't see how it could ever become the main street in Blackburn.

"My personal view is that I would like to see less takeaways and more shops of substance, but I don't see what sort of shop would survive on Darwen Street.

"Big business is hard-headed, and you've got to look at the income stream running through the town.

"The takeaways are supplying the market. How we could convince other businesses that it's viable I don't know."