PLANS to revamp Clitheroe Market could be scrapped in favour of a new vision for the wider town centre.

Ribble Valley Council’s policy and finance committee will meet next week to discuss whether to continue working with Barnfield Construction on the redevelopment of the market site or to terminate the contract and put together a government funding bid to help with a new plan for the town centre.

The market site would form one element of wider improvements to the town centre if members vote to scrap the contract.

The controversial £9million market plan was officially put on hold in September as councillors voted to step back and take a breather from plans for the redevelopment.

In September 2017 the borough ditched plans for a new 60-bed hotel as part of the redevelopment of the market in the face of public opposition.

The original scheme unveiled in July 2016 also included a three-storey covered market hall, shops and leisure units and a 56-space car park.

Despite scaling back the scheme to remove the hotel and provide a two-storey market building with an open-air top-floor space for stalls and and ground-floor food court, opposition remained strong

Last month, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published a call for expressions of interest to bid for part of the £675m Future High Streets fund.

This fund is intended to renew and reshape town centres and high streets in a way that improves experience, drives growth and ensures future sustainability.

Nicola Hopkins, the borough’s director of economic development and planning, said: “The council is committed to bringing forward a scheme for the redevelopment of the market area but this needs to be done in the context of delivering the right development for the town centre.

“Given the council’s ambitions for Clitheroe town centre and the announcement of the Future High Streets Fund there are other options for delivering the council’s vision for the wider Clitheroe town centre."

She said the town centre masterplan developed for Clitheroe, however, was nine years old now.