THE "Wake Up Bacup" campaign to revitalise the area for residents will move into top gear in the New Year with the launch of bids to attract up to £20 million in new investment.

Bacup and Stacksteads Community Partnership are putting the finishing touches to their final action plan which they will present at a public meeting in late January or early February.

A bid for £5million from Round Six of the Single Regeneration Budget will then be submitted.

If successful, a further £10million to £15 million in match funding will be sought from the public and private sector, to tackle a wide range of issues and improve the quality of life for the local community.

Substantial funding of £750,000 has already been secured for several initiatives, including the installation of CCTV cameras in Bacup town centre, home security to beat the burglar, development of an enterprise site ate the former Gaskell Mill and a heritage economic regeneration scheme in Bacup centre.

The Partnership is confident the bid is strong enough to succeed. Chairman Derek Allen said: "A lot of hard work is going on behind the scenes to put together a quality bid and everyone involved is feeling positive.

"We want as may local people as possible to attend the public meeting and find out what projects will be included."

The three main aims of the initiative are to improve quality of life, tackle social exclusion and build sustainability to make the community better able to help itself both socially and economically.

Priority will be given to improving safety and reducing crime, living conditions and the environment, healthy lifestyles, leisure facilities, the voluntary sector, local business, educational attainment, job opportunities and active citizenship.

The Bacup and Stacksteads Partnership is a multi-agency team representing the community, local authorities, churches and voluntary groups, police, probation, health, employment and training services and businesses.

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