FLEETWOOD'S popular seafront leisure area should have a fresh face for the new millennium.

Wyre Council is ready to start work in January on the £125,000 first phase of improvements to the gardens, walks and games areas near the Marine Hall, complete with an outdoor performance area and new recreation facilities.

The council and its partner in the scheme, the Lofthouse Foundation, have been guided in many ways by public demand - holding an open day at the Marine Hall in August for residents and visitors to give comments. Main points included a facelift for the Marine Hall and adjacent leisure centre - criticised as "very drab"- the need for affordable young people's amenities, and a general tidying of the area, where overgrown shrubs tend to be litter-traps.

The Lofthouse Foundation - makers of Fleetwood's famous Fishermans Friend lozenges - are putting in substantial funds for the enhancements, including new lighting for the area which, it is hoped, should cut down vandalism.

Next Wednesday Wyre leisure and tourism committee will consider its waterfront priorities for the 2000-2001 year - which include a £20,000 nine-hole crazy golf course to replace three which are currently in poor condition.

The council hopes to build a £15,000 outdoor kick-about area for youngsters near the leisure centre, which itself could benefit from Sports Lottery fund cash if a current bid is successful.

It also wants to upgrade and landscape shabby beach-bungalow frontages at a cost of £20,000, replace children's playgrounds in the Mount gardens and near the Marine Hall (£25,000) and renew signs and information boards (£10,000).

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