A SQUARE outside Blackburn's old town hall is to be transformed as part of a £2million project.

Work to revamp Town Hall Square will start on Monday bringing the council's long-awaited town centre masterplan nearer to completion.

About £900,000 will be spent on re-paving the area with high-quality stone, improved lighting, trees, and seating.

It will also take in Town Hall Street and the project is estimated to be complete by February.

There are also plans to light up the old town hall to give the historic building the importance it des-erves'.

But one business in the area has criticised the scheme for the disruption it will cause. Lord Odin, of Vall Hall Jewellers, which overlooks the town hall, said: "I've asked if they could do the work from 5pm to 10pm to cause less disruption, but they said no."

He said in the summer his store got warm and the door was left open for fresh air.

He added: "With the work going on there is going to be dust being blown aro-und the area."

But Coun Alan Cottam, executive member for regeneration, said the scheme would bring long-term benefits.

He said: "The work due to start on Town Hall Square will improve the pedest-rianised area and raise the quality of the town centre facility for shopping and leisure.

"It will also ensure the square that fronts the town hall will be in keeping with the grandeur of the 150-year-old listed building.

"With a project of this scale it is inevitable there will be some disruption to people using the area but we can assure everyone we will do our best to keep this to a minimum."

The project will just leave the section of King William Street opposite the shopping centre to be done before the new-look shopping quarter is complete.

And by July 2009 the section of Northgate in front of King George's Hall and Blakey Moor will also be revamped with better pedestrian access to the college and Sudell Cross.

The transformation of Lower Northgate is almost complete, and Sudell Cross underwent a £1.1million revamp last year.