WAYS of re-developing the former Grand Cinema site in Nelson Town Centre are to be explored with the appointment of consultants by Pendle Council.

Consultants in urban design and planning have been appointed to bring forward designs to redevelop the site of the former Grand Cinema, destroyed in a fire in May, 2000.

A series of workshops will shortly be held as part of an extensive consultation exercise among the community and all relevant stakeholders.

The results of the exercise will form an integral part of the consultants' ultimate design proposals for the site, currently in private ownership. Part of the their brief is to come up with ways that local people can actually use the site, which also 'work' even when not in use. Any design schemes must also take into account the surrounding environment.

The consultants are expected to present their proposals to the Council's Executive Committee in January for their consideration. Further details about the community workshops will shortly be made public.

The consultants are led by Willie Miller Urban Planning & Design, based in Glasgow, in association with community involvement and planning consultants Drew Mackie Associates and quantity surveyors David Campbell Associates.

Beth Logan, Pendle Council's neighbourhood manager, said: "The borough council wants local people to be involved in deciding what happens. It's their town centre, after all.

"Traders, shoppers, people who live here, children -- these are the people we need to hear from. I know that Nelson people are proud of their town and I'm sure they will have plenty to contribute."

She added: "This is about creating a theme and feel for Nelson. It's about the people of Nelson, not the shops per se. Our biggest challenge is that the site is currently in private ownership."

Willie Miller, principal of Willie Miller Urban Design & Planning, said: "This is a challenging project to identify future uses for the site.

"Nelson town centre has a rich history but today faces many complex issues and challenges. Any future uses need to reflect and take full account of this fact."

Drew Mackie, principal of Drew Mackie Associates, which has expertise in working with communities on planning and design projects both in the UK and in Europe, added: "It is vital that we engage with all relevant sections of the community to seek their views on what they would like to see here.

"We can't promise to please everyone but will certainly be conducting extensive consultation in the form of a series of community workshops between now and the end of the year.

"I would urge local people to attend at least one of these."