ROSSENDALE Chamber of Commerce has thrown its support behind the ambitious plans to reshape Rawtenstall town centre.

Masterplanners Arup, who have been appointed by Rossendale Council, made a presentation detailing three options to a 100-strong meeting of businesses and traders at Rawtenstall's Astoria.

The options represent three degrees of development, with option one being a 'make do and mend' scenario and the third a complete transformation of the Queen's Square area with more than 50 per cent of the centre area being redeveloped.

The Chamber's Tony Winder said: "Forty years ago the heart was ripped out of Rawtenstall. Now we have a chance to put it back.

"Redeveloping the Queen's Square area and replacing the current roundabout with a new road system is imaginative.

"The aim to create a much more visitor and pedestrian-friendly town centre has to be good news for all traders.

"There are questions marks: principally over who would finance the scheme, parking and whether it would create more traffic problems than it would solve but the mood was very receptive and very positive."

Those sentiments were echoed by Stephen J Ashworth, of the Hurstwood Group, which has submitted an application to redevelop several areas of Rawtenstall.

"I was excited by the tone and the content of the presentation -- in particular the third option," he said.

"We will want time to study the plans in detail before making a more considered response but in broad terms the plans can only be good news for the town.

"With our plans already going through the process there is a head of steam building up for change and these proposals represent another step in the right direction."

Clive Balchin of the Chamber of Commerce said: "The options, particularly option three, looks very impressive and imaginative.

"The key question is whether it can be delivered. There are also the fundamental questions of whether there is the political will and where will funds come from to drive the changes."

Steve Potter, of Arup, said the purpose of the meeting was to consult with the local community to establish if there is a consensus.

"Once we have taken stock of people's comments we will come up with a preferred option for the council and if that is passed a draft plan will be submitted to Government."