Despite traffic concerns involving the North Valley and potential loss of trade to Colne's traders, councillors felt the town was evenly balanced by those for and against the store.

What swayed the vote for Coun. Tony Greaves was the maximum of 320 jobs Sainsbury's would bring when it arrives at its Windsor Street site.

Councillors in favour of the store also knew that to turn the application down could result in costs against the council if it went to appeal. Under the council's planning framework, there was no reason to refuse the plans, therefore planning officers had recommended approval.

Due to concerns involving the loss of trade to the town centre shops, Sainsbury's has agreed to implement a bus service and promotional schemes to work alongside existing shop-keepers to lessen the blow.
Yet, reasons planning officers could approve the plans was partly due to the gathered evidence Colne could cope with one more supermarket and the identified loss of trade in the town is not expected to be significant.

Coun. Greaves said: "It's a very difficult application. If we don't accept it, people will say what idiots, and if we pass it people will say why did you not stick up for the people of Colne. People are divided.

"But we have to decide within the planning rules, which are very complex and a very well developed framework. If we tried to challenge that, the application would get thrown out and we would not get to set the conditions on the application."