PLANS for a new shopping centre in Boston have been rejected amid fears over road safety.

Texas Group Plc had wanted to build 13 retail units, two cafe/restaurants and 15 flats on the current 140 space NCP car park in Red Lion Street.

The development would also have seen the former Sketchleys building in Strait Bargate and the empty shop at 4 Wide Bargate demolished to be replaced with a new pedestrian access and an additional retail unit respectively.

But Boston Borough Council's planning committee unanimously voted to turn down the application due to concerns that lorries using one of the proposed delivery areas would put safety at risk.

In rejecting the application councillors also cited the lack of detail about a proposed link between the centre and Central Park.

The committee was told that in order to get into the delivery area lorries would have to reverse along Red Lion Street and make a left hand turn into the bay.

Cllr Mike Brookes said: "There could be chaos with lorries in and out of there. It could be pandemonium and be a real danger to other road users and pedestrians."

Cllr Ann Dorrian pointed out that a lorry had recently caused damage to a hairdressers' salon in Red Lion Street and said she was worried there would be more such incidents if the shopping centre was built.

She said: "It would be terrifying to be sat on the other side of a window when a HGV went through it."

Cllr David Witts suggested all deliveries to the site could be made from the loading area in Wide Bargate while committee vice chairman Cllr Dave Hobson said: "Vehicles reversing in and making a left hand turn would be disastrous."

But, interim development control manager Paul Edwards had recommended councillors approve the application pointing out Lincolnshire County Council's highways department had not objected to it, although he accepted the delivery arrangements were not ideal.