PLANS to create themed districts to promote Blackburn town centre have won the thumbs up from the public.

The council produced a map of the town centre which split the town into seven districts.

These were:

The Cathedral Quarter: Running around the Cathedral and down to the Darwen Street bridge, the council hopes to attract quality small businesses to the area while protecting and promoting historical buildings

College and Creative Quarter: Around Blackburn College and up to the Barbara Castle Way extension, this area would be promoted to businesses which would benefit from close links to Blackburn College, as well as more student housing and space for the College to grow

Commercial District: Around Barbara Castle Way, it will be targeted at professional firms which provide white collar employment

Town Centre retail Core: King William Street and Salford including the shopping centre and the markets.

Promotion of centre to attract new firms and the diversification of businesses as well.

Northgate/Cultural Quarter: Develop leisure opportunities here, more bars and more attractions, especially in early evening.

Retail and Leisure Parks: Around Audley and Asda at Grimshaw Park.

Plans include a new cinema plus a new retail park to house B&Q among others.

Transport Interchange; Improving the bus/rail stations.

The report on the consultation said: "Overall, support was there for the districts, with 65 per cent of people saying they were in favour.

"There were some concerns about how restrictive they would be but overall people were in favour of them."

Work on promoting the Cathedral Quarter identity has already taken place, with large banners being put up along Darwen Street and Mincing Lane.