BRITAIN'S favourite seaside resort is set for a massive face-lift to turn bright and breezy Blackpool into a beautiful town.

Top public figures and companies are working together as the Blackpool Town Centre Forum to rid the resort of the problems which riddle many other towns and cities.

Sculptures, street entertainment and pavement cafes are planned for the revitalised town centre to make it a cosmopolitan delight.

And as it becomes a celebrated haven for shoppers and businessmen alike, the town will be cleared of litter, graffiti and beggars.

This vision for the future is laid out in Blackpool, The Centre Target - a brochure which is the blueprint for a new Blackpool.

It admits that behind the glitzy facade and razzmatazz of Blackpool, there are many problems which are now being tackled.

It states: "The Town Centre Forum's vision is to enhance Blackpool town centre as a shopping, recreational and commercial centre, and to promote a clean, attractive and secure environment - to see Blackpool regain its position in the national shopping league and become a better place in which to live, shop, work and play."

Just some of the aims laid out in the plan are:

To encourage public and private sectors to carry out environmental improvements.

To encourage the improvement of pedestrian priority and access.

To improve access for the disabled.

To promote security issues.

To rekindle a new pride and spirit in the town centre.

Practical projects planned include CCTV to monitor the town centre and catch criminals on film; the Shopcare scheme which will keep empty shop premises looking attractive for prospective businesses; and improving rapid responses and solutions to town centre problems which may arise.

It is estimated the whole project will take three years to complete and cost many thousands of pounds.

Cash donations from business, groups and Blackpool Borough Council will fund the mammoth task to change the face of Blackpool forever.

Town centre manager Nigel Hanson said: "This is an on-going project and many things are already under way.

"The whole initiative is a great success story and we will certainly see a different Blackpool."

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