A RETURN to the cobbled streets of yesteryear will get the help of £300,000 grants from the National Lottery.

Rossendale and Burnley Councils today received the go-ahead for their schemes, helped by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Tarmacadam on Rawtenstall's main shopping street, Bank Street, will be torn away to uncover the original granite setts as part of a major conservation area scheme.

And in Padiham the concrete road and footways in Gawthorpe Street will be replaced with a natural stone cobbled street and flag footways, with the help of £90,000 from the Fund.

After years of tearing up flags and banging down concrete, the schemes are all about looking back to secure a better future for the towns. The Rawtenstall project has attracted £213,000 grant, which will be supplemented by around £45,000 cash from the council.

It includes restoration of cast iron railings, repair of shop blinds and enhancement of the northern end of the street.

Council leader John McManus said: "It is an excellent scheme which will do much to meet the need to revitalise trade in Bank Street.

"At the same time we are very conscious that it must be user-friendly, offering full and easy access to everyone.

The plan is not going to get a bumpy ride from the Access in Rossendale group, which aims to encourage easy access to public places and is being fully consulted. Gill Doyle, Access in Rossendale group secretary, welcomed the proposal.

She said: "Cobbles can be horrendous to people in wheelchairs, with prams and those who sight is impaired. But we have been promised full consultation and will co-operate fully with the council to get the best possible design."

The Heritage Fund allocations are part among 14 grants totalling £1.2 million in the North West, announced today.

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