RESIDENTS can get a glimpse of the future at a two-day public exhibition featuring plans for the £150 million Rock Triangle.

The exhibition is being staged by Thornfield Properties at the Met Theatre in Bury on Friday, July 22, and Saturday, July 23,

The display, which will be manned by representatives of Thornfields project team, will give the public a chance to find out more about the updated proposals.

Visitors can view the plans between noon and 6pm on July 22 and between 10am and 2pm the following day. To coincide with the event, a six-week unmanned exhibition will be staged at the planning reception in Craig House, Bank Street. A full report on the proposals and a copy of the consultation leaflet will also be made available on Bury Council's website.

Thornfields multi-million pound scheme has already gained the support of the local authority's cabinet members who were given an insight into the proposals at a presentation last month.

Tony Marcus, chairman of Thornfield Properties, said: "We hope that many local people will take a moment to visit the exhibition, view the proposals in further detail and, most importantly, let us know their views.We have learned from previous consultation that the general consensus is that Bury needs a boost.

"We are confident that the amended proposals improve upon the original scheme and provide the right mix of facilities to encourage more people to use Bury town centre and make local people proud of their town."

For the next few weeks, the company is holding a series of meetings with town centre interest groups and tenants who may be affected by the proposals. Businesses presently trading from the site are being invited to relocate into the new retail quarter and the United Reformed Church in Rochdale Road is to be relocated to a new church building.

Bury Council leader Councillor Wayne Campbell said: "It is essential that people are given every opportunity to find out about plans for the future of their town. After viewing the proposals, it is easy to see how Thornfields plans will provide new opportunities and enable us to go from strength to strength."

The Rock Triangle site will create more than 40 new shops and a large new department store, along with leisure facilities, including a multiplex cinema and bingo hall, restaurants and cafes. The scheme will also include a medical centre and 100 new residential units and links into proposals for Hornby Buildings and a former nightclub building.

It is envisaged that the Thornfield proposals will create more than 1,500 permanent jobs, full and part-time.

A planning application is likely to be submitted in the autumn, and subject to approval, preparation work could start on the new church towards the end of this year.