PEOPLE are being invited to take part in a drop-in session as part of a public consultation on a draft plan that council bosses hope could provide a £100m boost to Burnley's economy and create 1,000 new jobs.

Earlier this year, Burnley Council announced plans to bring forward a major new leisure development in the town centre.

This will include working with Reel to relocate its cinema into the town centre.

On Wednesday (October 10) people are being invited to visit Burnley Council’s “pop-up shop” next to the Greggs store (in The Mall, opposite Marks & Spencer’s) between 10am and 5.30pm to find out more about the plans and give their views.

Burnley Council leader, Cllr Mark Townsend said: “We have completed the improvements to the pedestrianised area, and the private sector has invested with new openings and improvements to shop frontages. But this was just the start. The masterplan needs to build on that.”

Asif Raja, executive member for economy and growth, added: “We need to plan for all the changes we want to see in the town centre, so that if, and when, funding becomes available, we can target those resources at schemes that are part of a coherent plan. We want local businesses and residents to give us their views, so that the whole borough can get behind the changes that are coming.”

The draft masterplan is available to view now on the council’s democracy website: http://bit.ly/2NxWmhD.

The consultation will run until October 22.

A presentation and Q&A session on the masterplan will also be held at the October meeting of the town centre partnership, which is made up of local retailers.