A CLEAN-up call has been issued by the Bishop of Burnley to ensure the town is Premier League class for the start of the new season.

Gateways into Burnley do not give the best impression of the town to visitors, says the Rt Rev John Goddard.

And he is urging council leaders to step up their efforts to regenerate important landmarks as the borough gears up for thousands of new visitors from across the UK.

Council bosses say the gateways highlighted by the bishop remain a top priority as part of ongoing regeneration work.

Burnley’s rundown Central Station, the Weavers’ Triangle and Gannow Top have all been identified by the Bishop as needing more work.

He said: “I am very aware that there will be businessmen coming to support their teams and this is an ideal opportunity for them to see the area at its best.”

But he is concerned that when supporters travel through parts of Trafalgar Street and Bank Hall and Burnley Wood they will get a tainted impression of the town.

“We need to gear ourselves up and accelerate the efforts that are being made,” added the Bishop, who acknowledged steps already taken by the borough council.

Recently the council was awarded £4million by the Northwest Development Agency to acquire interests in a large chunk of the Weavers’ Triangle, around Clocktower Mill.

The acquisition of the disused former Derby pub, at Gannow Top, has also been completed by the authority.

And £200,000 has been set aside as part of the town hall three-year financial plan for improvements to both Central and Manchester Road railway stations.

Coun Martin Smith, regeneration cabinet member, said: “Our policy has always been to concentrate on these gateway sites, with regards to facelifting, because these areas are very important to us.

“We want to make people’s visit to Burnley a worthwhile experience, and with the addition of the new Holiday Inn we now have somewhere for many of them to stay.”