DARWEN'S heritage will be preserved in the multi-million pound regeneration projects planned for the town, residents have been promised.

Blackburn with Darwen executive member for regeneration Coun Andy Kay gave the assurances after questioning from Coun Eileen Entwistle.

She demanded to know if the large scale projects, unveiled in a masterplan last week, would damage the town's heritage.

The plan is aimed at creating more retail space, renovating buildings and cutting down on traffic congestion.

She told Coun Kay at a meeting of Blackburn with Darwen executive board: "We have a lot of buildings to be proud of and I would like assurances they will be preserved." Coun Kay said: "One of the cornerstones of our masterplan is that historic buildings will not only be preserved, but also enhanced.

"The last thing we want to do is lose some of the magnificent buildings Darwen has.

"That is also something which came through very clearly in the consultation work we have carried out for the masterplan.

"We have submitted a large bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund to carry out improvement work at several buildings, including those around St Peter's, and we had hoped we'd be able to announce things by now, but that isn't the case just yet, although we are confident.

"Our aim is to improve some of the historic buildings by helping to bring them back into use again, which is something we have wanted to do for a long time."

He added: "It is the same with our masterplan for Blackburn town centre. Over the years, too many wonderful buildings have been lost and we can't afford for that to keep happening."

Coun Dave Smith, executive member for culture, leisure and sport, said the new £9million swimming pool to replace Darwen Leisure Centre would retain the existing facade. He added: "It's very important we preserve our heritage and keeping the front of the building is very important to us."

Marilyn Bysh, secretary of Darwen Civic Society, said: "We take a huge interest as a society in the heritage of the town and we are quite certain the masterplan will enhance the heritage.

"It is most certainly not at any risk. In the town centre there are three historical building. Belgrave Chapel is one.

"This has been turned into flats but kept its original features, which is how we expect the others the old bank in Market Street and the old technological college in Union Street to be treated."