PEOPLE of Burnley are being invited to have their say in the multi-million pound redevelopment of the town's Prestige site - as the first of two blockbuster shopping schemes comes under public scrutiny.

Plans by the would-be developer, Castlemore Securities, will go on display in the foyer of the Thompson Centre from Monday until June 8.

And town hall chiefs want local people to come forward with their views on the proposals for the 11-acre site, which finally closed as a kitchenware factory a year ago.

Castlemore's scheme, which would bring about 600 new jobs to the town, includes offices, non-food retail stores, garden centre and restaurant, together with car parking and landscaping works.

The proposals include retention of the famous art-deco frontage of the Colne Road factory, which is Grade Two listed.

Council planning chairman Stephen Large said: "We are keen to hear the views of local people before making a decision on this application." Public consultation closes on Monday June 15 and a decision on the proposal is expected to be made by the planning committee on July 30.

A rival joint bid for the site by shopping giant Sainsbury and developers Thornfield Properties aims to bring 600 jobs to the site.

It involves transforming the major area into a hotel, restaurant, garden centre, Homebase, Sainsbury food supermarket and office and business complex.

Public consultation on this application will take place later in the year.

Both developers have been required to provide impact studies on the effect their plans would have on existing retail services in the town.

Council chiefs say they are looking for a good mix of services on the site.

Eventually, planning permission could be granted to both bidders, and that could lead to a cash-bid battle for the site - good news for owners Gallaher, the tobacco giants who retained ownership of the site when they sold off the Prestige business some years ago.

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