EXCITING plans for Blackburn Cathedral and its precinct are being put before the town's people for their opinion.

Cathedral officials have unveiled an ambitious renewal project featuring the possible creation of a hotel, conference and community facilities, a variety of residential and commercial developments and a substantial public arts scheme.

The redevelopment could be completed within five years if bids for arts and heritage lottery cash and appeals for other investment are successful.

Backers believe the new attractions could attract more than 50,000 people a year to the area, enabling the cathedral to become more self-sufficent. The ideas are based on a strategy originally prepared for the Millennium Commission which fell at the final hurdle.

The Provost, the Very Rev David Frayne said: "We have been an island in the middle of two major town centre developments - the shopping centre and the Boulevard. "There is plenty of room for improvement in the area surrounding the cathedral and many exciting opportunities.

"We want to be able to fulfil more effectively our physical, economic, social, cultural and spiritual roles."

If the project gets under way:

The site of the former Palace Cinema could become a good class hotel.

The Cathedral crypt will be completely revamped and made into a multi-purpose venue.

Possible student accommodation will be created at St Mary's House.

The run-down Waterloo Pavilion buildings are likely to become retail or catering outlets.

A bandstand style outdoor activity area will be created.

The Provost will also continue pushing to turn Church Street and Darwen Street into pedestrian areas.

A public consultation period has been launched to gauge opinion and gather support for the draft plans.

Leaflets and questionnaires are available from the cathedral, Blackburn town hall and Blackburn library.

A steering group of interested organisations and individuals has already been set up to supervise the proposed lottery applications.

They will meet next on January 21 to assess public opinion and hope to have an outline bid ready in April.

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