A NEW £2m scheme to redevelop Nelson town centre -- including the notorious former Grand Cinema site -- is set to be unveiled on Thursday.

The aim is to create a vibrant town centre and improvements suggested include new street furniture, better lighting, street art and new civic spaces.

A main aim of the plan is to create a public space on the site of the Grand Cinema, destroyed in fire in May 2000.

Consultants in urban design and planning were appointed by Pendle Council to provide designs to re-develop the site.

The strategy suggests the site is left open and used as an area where events and civic ceremonies can be held. A large video screen could be installed with information about events and local activities.

Funding of £2m has already been approved by the North West Development Agency, although a further, more detailed bid will need to be submitted.

The strategy suggests the developments take place over several years not as a single one-off scheme.

Leader of the council Coun Azhar Ali said: "This is a very exciting opportunity to develop some areas of the town which have been a problem in the past. We have the chance to re-create some open spaces into retail areas or areas that can be used for other activity, particularly during the evening or at weekends. We want to make the town centre somewhere where people look forward to living and working in and a place people want to visit."

The plans will be presented to a meeting of Pendle Borough Council's Executive.