FLEETWOOD'S Regeneration Partnership has submitted an outline bid for £6 million to the Government to improve the port.

The bid, called Focus on Fleetwood, is for a share of the Single Regeneration Budget and if successful is expected to attract a further £46 million investment from the public and private sectors over the next six years.

Deputy chief executive of Wyre Borough Council, Brian Rowe, said: "The purpose of the bid is to pull the town up by its own bootstraps.

"There are tremendous opportunities in Fleetwood and the support of this bid by a wide range of business and organisation shows their confidence both in the town's people and its future."

Examples of projects to be funded include the redevelopment of the Cop Lane area, new family housing and housing for people with learning difficulties, a young people's social centre, a community sports and social centre and access to training and employment.

Leader of Wyre Borough Council, Richard Anyon, said: "The partnership is trying to motivate the whole community to involve itself in the regeneration of the town and I am delighted at the breadth and enthusiasm of the response."

Chairman of the partnership's executive committee, Danny O'Neill from ICI, said: "In the formation of this outline bid there has been a tremendous team spirit between business, voluntary and community organisations and the council, culminating in an extremely professional bid which deserves to be successful."

A formal bid will be submitted by September and the partnership will find out if they have been successful in December.

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