THE KEY to regenerating Burnley in the 21st century is attracting new firms to the town, according to the council leader.

And he said that developing the town and bringing new jobs centres around two main projects, Burnley Bridge business park and the Weavers Triangle development.

Coun Charlie Briggs said that a deal to develop the Weavers Triangle could now be signed with Barnfield Construction in two weeks.

Key figures in the town were quizzed on at a Question Time event at Burnley College on Thursday.

As well as council leader Charlie Briggs, Chief Superintendent Clive Tattum, county council leader Geoff Driver, director of public health Dr Sohail Bhatti and lead officer of SMILE Mediation Karen Ainsworth were on the panel.

When asked what was being done to develop a modern Burnley, Coun Briggs said: “We have got to take Burnley into the 21st century and the best way to do that is getting new firms into the town, and getting Burnley Bridge and the Weavers Triangle up and running.

“In about two weeks time we will have signed a deal with Barnfield Construction for redevelopment in the Weavers Triangle, and we have firms falling over each other to get in that area.”

Another hot topic of conversation was what was being done in Burnley to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Ch Supt Tattum said: “We take anti-social behaviour very seriously, we have dedicated cars and dedicated patrols that go out solely to tackle anti-social behaviour.”

Coun Briggs said: “Burnley as a whole in the last two to three years is doing a lot, lot better with issues around anti-social behaviour, but there are still problems in pockets of Burnley.”

County Coun Geoff Driver was forced to defend major cuts to youth funding in Burnley and also defended plans to introduced 20mph zones in residential areas across the county.

He said: “We want to teach people that we don’t have to more than 20mph in a residential area.

“We are working with local forums to decide what order to bring it in in each area.”

The event is set to be the first of several Question Time-style events to be organised in the borough.