BOROUGH regeneration boss Maureen Bateson has defended the council against a charge that the council is not doing enough to make Blackburn town centre bright and beautiful.

She was responding to a 425 signature petition from residents calling for more cash to be spent on ‘services such as litter patrol and the painting of walls and murals’.

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Coun Bateson admitted major works in the area, including the £33million Cathedral Quarter development and the building of the new £5mbus station, had caused ‘disturbance’.

But she said by the end of next year there would be a ‘brighter Blackburn’ with a ‘real buzz’ about the town centre and appealed to the petitioners to join in the revitalisation.

She also revealed the annual budget for town centre caretaking, cleansing and grounds maintenance had been increased by £120,000 to £345.000.

The petition, before Blackburn with Darwen council’s executive board tomorrow night, has been signed by 425 borough residents and business people.

It reads: “We, the people of Blackburn, believes that Blackburn’s future prosperity and reputation can be best served by the beautification of the town centre.

“We demand action with regard to this and suggest the appropriation of funds to services such as litter patrol and the painting of walls and murals.

“In the interests of Blackburn’s people and business, we demand action.”

Coun Bateson said: “We are committed to a brighter and better Blackburn town centre for the 21st Century. With major developments such as the Cathedral Quarter and the new bus station, there has inevitably been disturbance.

“By the end of next year, people will see a new town centre risen from the building sites.

“This is bringing a real buzz to Blackburn.

“We are doing all we can to revive the night time economy, with concerts at King George’s Hall, new restaurants and the pubs raising their game.”

“Making the town centre cleaner and greener has resulted in an investment amounting to £345,000 a year for town centre care-taking, cleansing and grounds maintenance.

“This represents an increase of £120,000 on existing resource levels.

“High quality planting schemes throughout the year have been introduced.

“With regards to the painting of walls and murals, the council has set up ‘Blackburn is Open’ a creative regeneration team.

“I appeal to the petitioners to come along to the council with their ideas and help and get on board our regeneration of Blackburn town centre.”