A WHITEFIELD councillor wants the owners of the Elms Shopping Precinct to appear at a public meeting.

Coun Warren Flood has issued the invitation to Anglo International Holdings to present their redevelopment or refurbishment proposals to the people of Whitefield who have been increasingly worried over the deteriorating state of the precinct.

Just under 600 people signed a petition last month asking for something to be done about the state of the precinct which has been described by many people as "appalling".

The petition, with 569 signatures, was sent to Anglo International Holdings on the Isle of Man.

Coun Flood said: "Residents of Whitefield are quite rightly upset and worried by the state of the precinct.

"When previous plans have been passed by the council, residents have welcomed them as a way forward for the community and the start of the regeneration of Whitefield.

"Unfortunately these plans have never materialised." The Pilkington Park councillor added that if the developers put their plans forward in a public meeting then they would benefit from people's input just as much as the residents would benefit from knowing what would be done.

"The owners have nothing to fear and everything to gain," he said.

While refusing to commit themselves or Anglo International Holdings to a public meeting, a spokesman for the agents, Taylor and Company, of Liverpool, said the statement which they had made three weeks ago still stood in that they are asking the public to be patient because refurbishment plans are imminent.

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