Sponsored by
MP's land could become late-night shop
LAND currently owned by Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle could be transformed into a shop.
Plans have been submitted to Chorley Council to transform an empty office block and former shop in Chorley Road, Adlington, into a convenience store.
The land is currently owned by Mr Hoyle and his father Lord Hoyle but the plans were submitted by Manchester-based planning agents GL Hearn on behalf of the Northhold Group, which wants to redevelop the site.
Today Mr Hoyle said the plans were nothing to do with him.
The Labour politician insists he has nothing to do with the application, but news of the plans have divided opinion in the village.
John Gibbs, owner of John's Newsagents, in Railway Road, said: "We aren't very happy.
"We don't need another convenience store in Adlington when we already have two Co-operatives.
"The plans say it could open from early in the morning until late at the night so although we don't know who will take it on, it isn't going to be your average shop.
"We have been trying to find out as many details as possible, but we don't seem to be getting very far and there are concerns about how parking and the noise from the refrigerators will affect neighbours living nearby.
"I think the point is that we don't need another convenience store in Adlington as we have a community of smaller shops that could all suffer. Trade could die a death if the plans are allowed to go ahead."
Mr Hoyle used to run a printing firm from the site but in recent years it has been used as a balloon shop and a marketing business.
It is not clear who would occupy the new store should planning permission be granted by Chorley Council next month.
However, according to the plans, the existing building will be demolished to make way for a convenience store, which could be open between the hours of 6am and 11pm.
John Harrison, owner of Adlington Races bookmaker, welcomed the plans and believes a new business could breath fresh life into the area.
He said: "If you look around all you can see is empty shops and empty pubs so if someone wants to move in then that can only be a good thing.
"Adlington is fast becoming a ghost town, but if we got a Tesco or something like that it could bring in more people and help the smaller shops.
"The building is currently empty and something certainly needs to be done with it."
A spokesperson for GL Hearn said: "I can confirm that an application to redevelop the site of 107-109 Chorley Road, Adlington, for a new build retail unit with 10 parking spaces has been submitted and validated by Chorley Council.
"There is currently no end user identified for this proposed development and the planning application is still at an early stage in the process."
Lindsay Hoyle said: "This application has nothing to do with me."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Chorley
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -3 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light sleet
Temperature: 0 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: West
