RIVAL developers bidding to build multi-million pound leisure parks in East Lancashire might have to wait a year for a public inquiry to choose who gets the go-ahead.

Two firms are in the running to build major complexes on two separate sites on land between Hyndburn and Blackburn.

Wigan-based Trinity Developers are proposing a £60 million leisure, business and industry park for Whitebirk, which could bring 2,500 new jobs to the area.

And a second firm, Kingspark Developments, hope to build a cinema and leisure complex in Greenbank. The Midlands company say their £20 million scheme would bring 350 new jobs to East Lancashire.

Both companies were attracted to the area following the decision to extend the M65.

Hyndburn councillors will have the job of deciding between the two projects over the next month. And the borough's planning chiefs are in the middle of drawing up their final recommendations after months of secret talks with the two developers.

Nigel Rix, head of Hyndburn's development services department, said: "It is highly likely that these two schemes will be called in by the Secretary of State for the Environment. "That would mean a public inquiry would have to be called to settle the issue. At this stage that would seem the most probable outcome."

A public inquiry can take as long as 18 months to complete. Under planning rules both sites can be used for industry and business, but special permission would be needed to open leisure parks.

Mr Rix added: "In assessing both applications, we have to decide what impact they will have on the vitality and viability of our town centres. We also have to follow local and national planning planning policies before coming to a final decision.

"The critical question is what effect each application will have on town centres in East Lancashire. We should not get too excited because these are major applications. Our job is to decide applications on their merits in relation to planning guidelines." The planning chief went on: "One of our main aims has always been to bring cinema back to Accrington. That has always been in the forefront of our thinking.

"We are sure their is a market for cinema in the town and have been looking at various markets. I am sure the ethnic community and people without access to cars would welcome a cinema in Accrington." Kingspark is due to have their application heard next Tuesday and their rivals Trinity early next month.

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