Controversial proposals to build a major supermarket in Barnoldswick were met with one niggling question this week: "Which one is it going to be?"

However, the developers behind the proposals insist they do not have any particular company lined up to move into the town, which has until now escaped the attention of "the big four" supermarkets.

Instead, Maple Grove Developments says it will invite bids from all the major chains if it gets outline planning permission to build on the Butts Mill site.

The company, which has created stores for both Booths and Morrisons in the past, unveiled its plans to the public on Wednesday in a packed Rainhall Centre. The scheme involves relocating the current occupants of the town centre site, Carlson Filtration, and creating a purpose-built 4,645 square metre store, with two levels and a 278-space car park.

The outline planning application also includes alterations to both the Butts and the adjoining Church Street, with a mini-roundabout at the current T-junction. The road improvements would also involve moving a house at the top of the Butts, which has already been bought by the development firm, back by several feet.

The modest size of the store means it is unlikely to be an extended supermarket, selling items such as electrical goods and clothes, and the plans show more than 4,000 square metres of its floorspace set aside for selling only food.

Speaking at Wednesday's exhibition, Maple Grove Developments representative Nigel Ward said the company planned to wait for outline planning permission before inviting tenders from supermarket groups for the site. Then Maple Grove would work with the chosen company on the final plans and put them forward for further approval - a process which could take up to two years.

Commenting on the reaction of local residents to the proposal, Mr Ward said: "The general feedback has been mixed, but it's been more positive than negative.

"A number of people have expressed interest and concern in which supermarket it is likely to be, but we're not hiding anything - we genuinely don't know.

"However, we have put feelers out to make sure companies in general would be interested in the town and they think it's viable, and the answer is yes."

Addressing concerns over access for heavy goods vehicles making deliveries, Mr Ward said the proposed scheme would use the existing HGV access for deliveries via Church Street and Calf Hall Road.

He added that service access could be restricted to certain hours if required, but would probably only comprise "a couple of deliveries" each day. He also said the store's car park would be "available to anyone", including nearby residents and people using other town centre shops.

Local residents inspecting the plans included Glenn Whittaker, who said that he was not against a supermarket "in principle".

But he added: "I think it would be bad for the residents on the Butts and Calf Hall. It would devalue their houses and mean they can't park on the street."

And a Beech Street resident, who declined to be named, said: "Church Street isn't big enough now for the traffic so if you've got more wagons going up there it's going to be a nightmare."

Barnoldswick resident Keith Henner commented: "I think it will just kill Barlick - it isn't going to bring people into town.

"It might help to smarten it up a bit, but it will kill the town centre and you can buy everything you need already.

"The land could be used for housing or to put up a facility for young people."

Mr Henner doubted a supermarket would be fully utilised.

He said: "You can say it'll stop people going out of town, but people have always gone out of town to shop in Barnoldswick, even in the days before cars."

However, keen walker Edith Sheldrick was more welcoming towards the proposals.

She said: "My main interest is in the reopening of the footpath between Calf Hall Lane and the Butts, which was blocked when they built the Carlson building. The cycleway and walkway included in the plans will hopefully give walkers access again."

Barnoldswick and West Craven Chamber of Trade chairman Sally Nicholson echoed the comments of many people in the Rainhall Centre when she said she was reserving judgement on the proposals.

She said the chamber of trade, which represents many town centre retailers, was due to discuss the proposals at a meeting on Monday and added: "It would be unfair to comment on it before everyone's had the chance to have a look at the plans and get their views across."