AMID the debate ignited by this newspaper over how run-down Lord Square threatens the efforts to regenerate Blackburn's town centre and boost its prosperity are many imaginative projects that make the prospects seem bright overall -- as is shown by our detailed examination tonight of the changing face of Blackburn.

Our view remains that if Standard Life will not transform Lord Square they should sell it off to someone who is willing to improve it and invest in Blackburn's future.

Even so it has to be acknowledged that much is being done to achieve its aims -- and that much has been done already.

And that includes the extensive refurbishment in 1996 of the rest of the town's shopping precinct which Standard Life owns.

Nor should the council's own efforts -- the revamp of Ainsworth Street and the town's markets for example -- be overlooked.

And of those taking place at present, the council-led renovation of Church Street cannot be criticised for its boldness and ambition of inspiring more town-centre investment as well as creating an attractive link between the shopping centre and the pleasant cathedral area. But judgment needs to be reserved on whether the finished project -- complete with its new public art -- will pass the aesthetics test.

A lot, too, depends on the promised transformation of the street's old Pavilions buildings into an up-market bar-restaurant being realised. Despite the hitches and delays, this is a project that must come off, for it is crucial to Church Street's regeneration. And the other developments in the pipeline -- the revamp of historic Fleming Square, the Audley retail developments, the completion of the Orbital Route and the Student Village idea -- must all be driven through with determination.

The hopes of keeping Blackburn alive, attractive, with more jobs and better wages, depend on them all -- and, generally, the signs are encouraging.