BRIERFIELD residents are being invited to have their say on how half a million pounds could be spent to improve the town centre.

A public meeting will be held next week to consider ways to spend £250,000 secured by Pendle Council from Pendle Partnership and Lancashire County Council. A further £250,000 grant has been made available from the authority's Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.

The cash will be used to carry out traffic and environmental improvement works to the town centre, with work possibly including new street furniture, boundary and directional signage, canopies to shop fronts, safe-crossing facilities and better street lighting.

Leader of the council, Coun Azhar Ali, will attend the meeting at 7pm on Wednesday, January 23, at Brierfield Community Centre. Coun Ali stressed the work must improve pedestrian safety and the image of the town centre. He said: "This extra funding has to be used on work that will make a noticeable difference to the physical appearance of the town centre, as well as improving general safety for pedestrians. I urge Brierfielders to make their views known to us.

"The council is aware of the challenges, but we need input from locals."

People who are unable to attend the meeting can put forward their ideas in writing to Jan Joshi, Town Centres Officer, Regeneration Team, Pendle Council, Pendle Business Centre, Trafalgar Court, Nelson, BB9 9BT, tel 01282 661682 or e-mail jan.joshi@pendle.gov.uk.