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Tithebarn inquiry ‘biggest event in Preston’s history’
Lancashire Evening Post | 18th May 2010

Battlelines were being drawn today in the £700m Tithebarn fight - as city bosses heralded the public inquiry as the start of the “most important six weeks in Preston’s history”.

Reams of expert evidence is expected to be heard over the next month and a half as Preston goes to war with numerous opponents of the scheme.

Preston Council has earmarked £650,000 to fight the inquiry while Tithebarn developers Lend Lease have employed one of the country’s top planning QCs to fight its case.

But both Blackburn and Blackpool Councils have hired their own solicitors to fight Preston all the way.

And city council leader Ken Hudson today admitted the outcome could be “make or break” for Preston.

He added: “This is really make or break time where the value of Preston as an economic driver for the whole of Lancashire is tested by this inquiry.

“If it goes ahead it means that a lot of jobs which are already in the city are safe and an extra 5,000 jobs will be created, as well as securing the ongoing prosperity of the region. We feel we have an excellent case for taking forward this project.”

Preston’s Labour group leader Coun John Collins said: “We are all unanimous and think Tithebarn is absolutely essential for the good of the city.”

Lib Dem group leader Coun Danny Gallagher said: “The whole thing is one of the biggest things to happen to Preston. It is to promote Preston, to help generate business, to liven up the whole economy in Preston. We are a city and we have got to start thinking like a city.”

County Hall leader County Coun Geoff Driver said: “Quite apart from the benefit you will get from the increase in retail space, which will bring in a lot of people who might be going further afield and bring millions of pounds into the economy of the Lancashire sub-region, the real thing is since we took control of the county council we have been pushing for Lancashire to fight above its weight and compete with Greater Manchester and Liverpool.

“The only way we are going to do that is if we work together and that is why I’m disappointed that Blackpool and Blackburn have not looked at the bigger picture of the benefits it will bring to the whole region.

“I shall be going to the start of the inquiry along with the Labour and Liberal Democrat group leaders to show our solidarity with Preston.”

Hugh Evans, director of policy at the North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Tithebarn is a huge opportunity for Preston and Lancashire and the scheme cannot be allowed to fail. Millions of pounds have been pumped into Manchester and Liverpool to revitalize their city centres. Preston now needs a similar opportunity to show what can be done.”

Frank McKenna, chairman of private business lobby group Downtown Preston in Business, said: “It is crucially important as far as Preston and its future is concerned. Whether or not Tithebarn happens in its original format is almost immaterial because if we can win the public inquiry we will have the permission to get on and start a major regeneration scheme in the city centre. Without that, it is back to the drawing board.”