THIS is the first look at how the new £3million revamp of Burnley town centre will shape up.

And now town hall bosses are looking for public views on the proposals for St James Street, which are being funded by Burnley Council and Lancashire County Council.

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Under the scheme the bandstand, installed when the original pedestrian scheme was unveiled in 1991, will be removed, and new staging is being introduced as part of a public square concept.

New paving will also now extend from the Hammerton Street junction to Yorkshire Street and several planters put into place.

One central paved road, branching off into Parker Lane, will be established for service vehicles, with loading bays at the busiest points.

The scheme has been broadly welcomed – but former mayor Councillor Roger Frost has warned against making the road too prominent.

He said: “I think it is a great idea to move the bandstand and I believe a number of parks are bidding for it. It could go to Ightenhill, which used to have its own.

“If it ends up being the same layout as Nelson though, that would be a disgrace. It is very unpopular with people who run businesses in the town centre there. Pedestrians should still have priority for me.”

Brian Hobbs, chairman of Burnley Chamber of Commerce, said: “This gets a gold star from us – we have seen the plans and really like the designs. There is not much heavy traffic which uses St James Street, only lightweight box vans.”

Traders understand that the former tram lines, which used to run along the street, will be used to strengthen the central route.

Two public consultation events are set to take place tomorrow from 10am to 1pm, with another on Friday, May 22, from 10am to 3pm, on the street, with plans also available on the council’s website. Another information stall is operational at Burnley College on Monday, from noon.

Cllr Shah Hussain, the council’s regeneration cabinet member, said: “This project will be a vote of confidence in Burnley as a great place for shoppers and traders.”

Extra space is being created for the four open-air markets and annual food festival staged there, alongside improved CCTV and ‘wave’ benches.

Work is expected to be finished on the project, subject to planning permission, by autumn 2017.