A THREE-way partnership today announced plans for a £28m rebirth of Rawtenstall which could lead to the creation of more than 1,000 jobs.

Proposals include a 58,000 sq ft food superstore, a daily train service to Manchester, developing derelict Ilex Mill and an £800,000 Macdonald's Drive Thru 90-seat restaurant.

And if the scheme secures government funding, a cable car could be installed to connect Newhallhey with Ski Rossendale.

MP Janet Anderson said: "I think this is a worthwhile and imaginative scheme and it would bring much needed jobs and tourism to Rossendale."

Rossendale Council is bidding for around £15m from the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) to develop Ilex Mill, currently owned by the Oyston Group, and upgrade the preserved East Lancashire Railway for daily use, connecting with the Metro Link tram system at Bury.

Hurstwood Developments is planning to develop its 11-acre site at Newhallhey for retail use including a superstore larger than the current Asda store in Rawtenstall and a footbridge link from the railway to the development.

The site will be connected directly with the Edenfield by-pass by a new roundabout.

John Ashworth, chairman of the Hurstwood group of companies, said: "This is the largest single investment in Rossendale in living history.

"Hurstwood are substantial property owners in Bank Street and other areas within the town and are conscious of the positive impact this investment will create.

"Market research has confirmed that a large proportion of the Valley's population shopping budget is spent elsewhere. We believe that this development will curb that trend and encourage more visitors and shoppers to the Valley."

Rossendale Council chief executive Steven Hartley said: "Part of the bid is to upgrade the railway, without destroying the steam railway side, to provide a park-and-ride facility to Manchester."

"It means upgrading signalling and rolling stock and linking into a new station at Buckley Wells in Bury which would connect directly with the Metro Link tram system.

"We are also planning to develop Ilex Mill to provide accommodation for the town hall and maybe also the police station and courts, freeing up property in the town centre for retail use."

Mrs Anderson said she would be writing to the Government to ask them to support the bid and give Rossendale priority.

Draft plans have to be submitted by June 7 and if ideas are viewed favourably a more in-depth plan will be lodged in September and the council will know if it has been successful by the end of the year.

Mr Ashworth says even if the SRB bid is unsuccessful, many of his company's plans for the development of the Newhallhey site will still go ahead.

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