A VISION for the future of Bacup town centre will be discussed next week.

The Town Centre Working Group of Rossendale Council has already been meeting at the Astoria, Rawtenstall, to discuss plans for the redevelopment of Rawtenstall.

And Manchester-based consultants Arup have been commissioned by Rossendale Council to produce a masterplan for the area.

The scheme, it is hoped, will lead to an area action plan to replace the outdated local plan.

The plan for Rawtenstall will help create a new framework for developing the town centre by looking at new shop space, offices, accommodation, a hotel, parking space, the market, the bus station and moving the council buildings.

The road network, traffic concerns and pedestrian access will also be addressed.

Steve Potter, of Arup, said: "Nothing has been set in concrete, we are just looking at what could be done.

"This plan will be based on developing Rawtenstall as Rossendale's premium centre."

Plans for a cinema at the Valley Centre were dismissed by both the consultants and the working group due to the number of people living in Rossendale and the competition in neighbouring Pilsworth and Burnley.

And the consultants stressed when visitors come into a town centre, first impressions count - and the gateways into Rawtenstall are poor.

Mr Potter added: "At every point of entry there is a weakness and it needs to be addressed."

The group will meet again on Monday, January 10 to discuss the masterplan, including plans for Bacup.