AN £11 million action plan is to be launched in a bid to improve Burnley's image and make the town more attractive to visitors.

'Grot spots' on the edge of the centre will be cleared away and entrance points for bus, rail and car users given a facelift.

The plan aims to complement the £25 million refurbishment and development of the town centre by improving access, information, signposting and adding a 'feel-safe' factor.

Councillors will be asked this week to bid for a £2.2 million Euro grant.

If successful it would trigger £6.6 million private sector investment and a further £2 million public cash funding for the project.

Town hall officers say the four-year scheme would create 125 new jobs, mainly in the more deprived areas of Burnley. Their report to the policy committee says the North West is the only region is Europe targeted for town centre regeneration money and it is an opportunity not to be missed.

But they warn that competition from other towns will be fierce.

They say most of the "grot spots" approaching the central area are in private ownership and action may include acquisition, clearance and redevelopment.

The aim is also to improve access to the town centre for the disabled, cyclists and pedestrians.

The report adds: "The action plan is very much about building upon and consolidating the work already done in regenerating not only the town centre of Burnley but also the whole borough.

"It is designed to tackle some of the things which may prevent people from appreciating the good things about Burnley and to improve its overall image."

Burnley must submit its bid by September 12 and approval would result in a January 1998 start.

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