The big four often encounter planning issues with out-of-town stores, but in Blackburn it’s a new Poundworld that councillors have taken exception to.
Darwen Council has told the discounter it cannot open a store on Townsmoor Retail Park unless it agrees to sell no food and drink. Such an offer would have a “negative impact on the vitality of Blackburn town centre”, it argued.
Around 20% of a Poundworld store is given over to food and drink, which is sold in all of the retailer’s 245 stores. Trading director Chris Edwards Junior said the council feared Poundworld would close one of its two town centre stores, but insisted it had no intention of doing so.
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