THE borough's town centres could be turned into specialist retail areas in a bid to keep shoppers local.

Local authority and business leaders want to stop the flood of people going to out-of-town shopping centres.

They are thinking of marketing local town centres to cater for specific groups of people and differentiate them from remote superstores.

One idea is for a "Shop Green" theme, with local town centres re-named - Prestwich Green, for instance.

But the official status of Whitefield town centre may be under threat unless improvements are made to the Elms precinct and the former Safeway store.

Bury council is deep in talks with the owners and discussing a range of options, which may include creating leisure facilities.

The plans are being discussed by the Six Towns Group of Bury Strategic Partnership, which brings together local businesses and town hall officers.

Members accept shopping habits have changed, with more emphasis on leisure and a day out. Plans could involve publicising the Metrolink to promote environmentally aware shopping, and linking with local leisure facilities like Prestwich Forest Park and the Irwell Sculpture Trail to bring in more visitors who will then also do their shopping.

Local authority bosses accept that people see great investment in Bury itself, although outside money is largely paying for it - from Mill Gate developers MEPC, Government cash for a markets revamp, and European money for a town centre warden scheme.

Ramsbottom 2000 has recently appointed a town centre manager and receives help from the East Lancs Railway.

However, Prestwich has established a Business Forum, and the Radcliffe Traders Group has just been relaunched.

Mr Dennis Taylor, council chief executive, said the council had a limited role to play and could not spread its resources too thinly.

But Prestwich and Radcliffe, could be promoted as "niche" retail areas, known for specialist products.

Mr Taylor said: "All these things are being explored to see if they have any merit to them."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.