A BID for £100,000 has been made to English Heritage to set up a Stream 'n' Steam water-power heritage trail in Barnoldswick to help regenerate the town.

The cash is being sought from the Heritage Economic Regeneration Scheme (HERS) for three years and would involve the English Heritage providing £50,000 and the remainder being match funded through the Market Towns Initiative.

Pendle Council recently approved a smaller than planned HERS for Barnoldswick town centre for three years, beginning this financial year.

A Stream 'n' Steam heritage trail was suggested as part of this scheme but funding from English Heritage was reduced by 60 per cent and the idea was dropped.

English Heritage has since invited competitive bids for a new HERS starting next financial year 2003/2004 and Pendle Council has submitted another bid for the trail.

If successful in the first round, a second bid would be submitted later in the year containing a more detailed implementation programme.

The Stream 'n' Steam heritage trail would link the rural footpaths, including the Pendle Way, to the town centre. It is aimed at encouraging investment by local businesses in the heritage assets of the town, increasing the amount of visitors and giving a boost to the western part of the town centre.

It would run from Gillians and Bancroft Mill to Rolls Royce via Ousel Dale, Walmsgate, Butts, Valley Gardens, Old Corn Mill and Victory Park.

Other branches from this route could be provided to places such as Calf Hall Mills and the site of the St Mary's Abbey.