ARTIST’S impressions of what might replace Darwen’s three-day market should it be demolished have been revealed.

The Darwen Town Centre Partnership Board held a second consultation meeting at Darwen Aldridge Community Academy to present two future visions for the land drawn up by a designer based on ideas put forward by residents.

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The first proposal shows a development with two-levels introducing new cafe spaces on the upper levels of the site with an organic shaped glass canopy over a ‘reinvigorated’ three-day market space.

The second option presents a more straight-line geometry with new retail and dining opportunities under a glass shelter, while a central space will provide an open air environment for shoppers to enjoy.

Cllr John Roberts, chairman of the board, said he was pleased at what the people of Darwen have come up with and feels both proposals are very flexible.

He said: “We have always wanted the people of Darwen to come forward with their ideas so that they could build the vision of what they wanted.

“If we had let the council decide what to do with the market there would have been criticisms from all over the place, so this is the best way.

“I think both ideas have a lot of flexibility, people clearly want to have the opportunity to do other things as well as have the stalls.

“What will determine the success of this is how much people are prepared to open businesses and to buy from those businesses in the development.

“The council will be there for support whatever ideas people have.”

The current three-day market has suffered from a decline in footfall and has a 40 per cent vacancy rate, which led to Blackburn with Darwen Council proposing to close and demolish the site.

The Darwen Town Centre Partnership Board has been leading the consultation on what could be done with the space, asking for ideas from the public through the new Heart of Darwen website.

Samantha Taylor, a member of the board, said: “I am excited the first ideas have been drawn up.

“It’s amazing what a designer can come up with when given an array of ideas with no prior knowledge.

“Both proposals look very impressive and it shows that we are using people’s ideas and engaging with them.”