Monday, September 18, 2006

Kirkham-based Goldrush Amusements, which currently has an amusement arcade
further down Market Street, will take over the former Booths supermarket on
the corner of Market Street and St George's Street. Chorley Council gave the
go-ahead for the scheme this week. Today the town's Chamber of Trade said
they were "very disappointed" with the move in what is considered a prime
shopping area..Honorary secretary of the group Jose Hampson said: "This is a
big disappointment. We have already got a big amusement arcade in Chapel
Street. The town is already covered for that and we did not need another one
like it. "We would have liked to have had one of the top retail chains move
in there, and we are disappointed this was never discussed with the Chamber
of Trade. It think it is a really bad decision." The former Booths store has
been empty since the retailer moved to its new multi-million pound base near
the Market Walk shopping centre last year.

Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle said he would have preferred to see a new shop move
into the empty unit.

He said: "This was a shop up to Booths moving.

"This is not going to attract shoppers to that part of Market Street. We are
bitterly disappointed they did not hold out to make sure that end of the
street does not decline in retail terms."

A spokesman for Goldrush said: "We have found that at the other end of
Market Street we have had a positive influence."