ENVIRONMENTAL improvements which have reshaped areas of Radcliffe have taken on a foreign dimension.

Certain projects in the town could soon be replicated thousands of miles away - in Poland.

And last Friday, Bury's Business Environment Association welcomed a delegation from the former Eastern Bloc country.

Mike Kinsella, Bury BEA manager, said the visitors were briefed about the success of the business investment programme which had brought benefits to Radcliffe.

He added: "These Polish visitors are setting up a Business Environment Association in Poland, modelled on the lines of Bury's own BEA. "They are now looking to replicate the successful business environmental improvements package that completed its first full year recently, drawing more than £250,000 of investment to regenerate parts of Radcliffe."

During their visit, the Polish delegation viewed a number of sites in the town, each with a major environmental theme, including part of the Irwell Sculpture trail at Outwood (pictured).

These included the premises of BYC Rollmakers in Brook Street and Witton Mill in Kenyon Street; a new car park at Stand Lane; improvements at the old Outwood colliery site; and Abden Street/Blackburn Street.

They also viewed projects in Hollybank Street and the canalside.

Bury Council's department of development and environmental services initiated the scheme and Mike Wellock of the planning department was the project leader. Janet Brooks of the BEA was responsible for managing it.

The programme was funded through English Partnerships with support from the Government's Single Regeneration Budget scheme.

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