SEVERAL improvement schemes in and around Burnley’s Weavers’ Triangle development area are scheduled to take place before the end of the year.

Work will begin with an upgrade of the traffic signals at the junction of Westgate and Trafalgar Street, near the former Mitre pub, on Wednesday, May 7, county highways officials have announced.

And the project will continue with upgrades to the pavements around Trafalgar Street and Sandygate – where borough council bosses will be constructing a new link bridge and square this year.

The third leg of the initiative will see a puffin crossing installed on Queen’s Lancashire Way.

Coun Shah Hussain, Burnley Council’s regeneration cabinet member, said: “As far as the work around the Weavers’ Triangle is concerned we’ve already seen a massive transformation of the area.

“Older residents will remember what Trafalgar Street was like not that long ago and I’m sure they’re impressed by how it’s been transformed.

“The university technical college has opened and another mill is being brought back to life as a base for the Prince’s Trust. Ambitious plans to make Sandygate Square an attractive public open space are under way.

“The roadworks along Sandygate and Trafalgar Street are an essential part of the exciting transformation of the area.

“Trafalgar Street in particular will become more attractive, whether you’re driving or walking along it.

“Long gone are the high-rise flats and derelict buildings that dominated the area.”

The phases are part of a wider £1.95million programme which will also see traffic lights at the Barracks roundabout. This should be completed before the Trafalgar Street stage.

Road closures are expected along the way for Queen's Lancashire Way, Trafalgar Street and Sandygate to carry out the work.

Work is also ongoing on preserving the former Habergham Eaves parochial school, on Trafalgar Street.