TRADERS have welcomed council plans for a pilot scheme of street works in Orchard Road, St Annes to launch the physical regeneration of the town centre.

Fylde Borough Council presented the plans to traders at a meeting in St Annes last Thursday (November 15).

The idea was greeted enthusiastically by shopkeepers in Orchard Road and opinions about what improvements could be carried out were discussed.

Now Fylde Borough Council is planning to consult with other groups including pupils from St Bede's School and Queen Mary School to ask for their design ideas for reviving St Annes.

Proposals under consideration for Orchard Road include, putting in glazed verandahs, possibly similar to the type found in Lytham, creating more on-street parking, putting in traffic calming measures, for example by widening the junctions, planting trees, creating sculptures, improving the paving and adding street lighting.

And from tomorrow the council's recently written design guide called St Annes: Centre of Attraction, with an artist's impression of what Orchard Road could look like, will be available for public view at St Annes Town Hall.

Arnold Sumner, chairman of the St Annes Chamber of Trade said: "It is absolutely unique, the planning people approached us saying we would like to go this way with consultation, listening very carefully to the people in the area. I think it is a very good idea.

"They have to make a start somewhere in St Annes and I think as they make a success of one area the theme will carry on."

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