BLACKBURN with Darwen Council is launching a campaign against plans for a huge expansion of Preston city centre.

In its next issue of the Shuttle, the council’s own publication, it will urge residents to join the campaign and make their feelings heard.

The action has won the backing of the Blackburn Chamber of Trade and other shop bosses in the town.

Already Blackburn MP Jack Straw and the borough’s council leader have said they would fight the plans, prompting Preston council leader Ken Hudson to label them ‘nimbys’.

But concerns are growing among Blackburn with Darwen Council leaders that the development would have a massive impact on the borough’s town centres, so they have stepped up their opposition.

They fear it will draw up to 20 per cent of trade away, and lead to major names scaling back their stores in the borough.

The £700million Tithebarn development would have a large Marks and Spencer and John Lewis stores, a multi-screen cinema, more than 20 restaurants and cafes and 52,000 square metres of shops, almost doubling the city’s retail area.

There will also be a 2,700-space car park and 400 apartments.

Objectors believe the proposal goes against the North West Regional Assembly’s strategy for Lancashire, which has Preston, Blackburn and Blackpool on a relatively equal footing.

Already Blackburn with Darwen Council has urged businesses to object and now that is being extended.

A planning application is due to be submitted this summer.

Blackburn with Darwen bosses, together with Blackpool Council chiefs who are also protesting, are hoping their campaigns will result in the proposal being taken to a public inquiry.

Blackburn with Darwen leaders would then make their case for the Tithebarn to be scaled back.

Council chief executive Graham Burgess said: “We support any other town that builds its centre up but not if it has a damaging affect on Blackburn and this is what this could do.

“The north west strategy states that Blackburn, Blackpool, Burnley and Preston should have a similar type of shopping experience.

“The Tithebarn would be bigger than Blackburn and Blackpool shopping centres combined which is a massive worry.

“It could draw away 10-20 per cent of trade away from Blackburn town centre and really push the town down.

“Also the quality shops in the town would not see the future as being in Blackburn.

"If we lost them, or they scaled down, that would have hugely negative impact.”

David Cottam, president of Blackburn Chamber of Trade, added: “If Preston toned it down a little bit we would have no objections.

“The redevelopment of our town centre will be great for Blackburn but it could be affected by this development in Preston.”

John Caffrey, who runs the Chilli Lime Deli, Fleming Square, said: “How many generic shopping centres do we need in this area?

"We’ve got the Trafford Centre 40 minutes away. We don’t need another one any closer.”

Rose Fowler, who runs Mercer’s Toys, Darwen Street, said: “It does worry me and it’s bound to worry any trader in Blackburn.

"Out of curiosity people would go to have a look round and that would be bound to have a big effect on trade here, at least initially.”

Joe Passerini, of Passerini Barbers, Mincing Lane said: “A lot of people go to these kinds of shopping centres for a day out but to have one so close would mean just a simple trip.

"In general I think it would affect town centre trade.”