A MULTI-MILLION plan to revitalise Haslingden has got underway with the start of four new projects.

The most ambitious scheme in the £53 million five-year plan - and the one which will have the greatest impact on the town is a complete facelift to Blackburn Road - is a revamp of the main road through the town.

It will include demolishing 15 unfit houses on Cross Street South and rehousing residents, improving over 300 homes on Blackburn Road, improvements to businesses along the corridor, Traffic calming measures and the creation of pocket parks on waste land.

Costing over £1 million it will take four years to complete.

Tony Earnshaw, deputy director of Action for Haslingden, said: "This will have a major impact on the town. "It's the first impression people get of Haslingden and at the moment it acts as a disincentive."

Traffic calming measures costing over £100,000 are also underway on Manchester Road, Bury Road and the streets in between. Many measures have been suggested by local residents.

Work has now started on a scheme aimed at allowing people to live over the shop. Ten flats are being created in the derelict upper floors of the old Co-op building on Deardengate. The first are expected to be ready in January 1998. The block will consist of eight one-bedroomed and two two-bedroomed flats.

Mr Earnshaw said: "The scheme will provide much needed single person and one parent family accommodation in the town centre.

"It will improve the choice of affordable housing and bring a partly derelict building back to life." Costing over £500,000, the project will eventually be managed by the West Pennine Housing Association.

The fourth scheme, costing £50,000, will give local women the opportunity to gain qualifications near to home.

Accrington and Rossendale College is to open a town centre shop as a training centre. It hopes to open by August and aims to recruit 200 women to training courses leading to vocational qualifications and either jobs or further studies.

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