PENDLE has a new Town Centres Officer - a woman who has already had considerable success over the border in Yorkshire.

Jan Joshi (pictured), 33, helped to get 100 per cent occupancy of town centre premises in Batley and aims to do the same for Pendle.

Jan said she would pursue a strategy of developing an evening economy for Nelson, encouraging a wider range of retailers into the town and incorporating the council's town centre strategy for Nelson produced by a firm of retail consultants last year.

She will also oversee the grants and business development initiatives currently being undertaken in Nelson along with the image enhancement scheme.

Jan said: "I want to work with retailers in each town to encourage them to take an active role in developing our town centres. It is vital that local businesses support and shape the council's development work in our town centres."

Pendle's other town centres in Barnoldswick, Brierfield, Colne and Earby will hopefully get funding for a variety of initiatives once she has identified what is needed.

Jan previously worked with Salford City Council and Kirklees Metropolitan District Council; in the latter she was a member of the team working on the government's £37 million City Challenge scheme.

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