Padiham and Burnley shopping areas get £10,000 from Portas Pilot Towns initiative (From Burnley and Pendle Citizen)

Padiham and Burnley shopping areas get £10,000 from Portas Pilot Towns initiative

6:00pm Thursday 8th November 2012 in Burnley By Peter Magill, Chief reporter

FRESH efforts are being made by traders to revive the fortunes of two key shopping destinations in the borough of Burnley.

An award of £10,000 each has been presented to Padiham town centre and Standish Street, in Burnley, from the Portas Pilot Towns initiative.

While neither location was selected for the £100,000 prize, given to the likes of Nelson earlier in the year, unsuccessful bidders have been given follow-up grants to make a start on regenerating their areas.

Brian Hobbs, president of Burnley Chamber of Trade, is chairman of the Standish Street area’s traders group, which is already drawing up plans on how to spend the windfall.

He said: “We are looking to promote Standish Street as a location for independent businesses – both to customers and to other people looking for units.

“There are also plans for better signage, a loyalty card scheme, and marketing the area as a shopping area for students.”

The nearby Burnley College campus, and the soon-to-arrive university technical college, in Trafalgar Street, are seen as key issues.

Meanwhile, Padiham has appointed its own town centre manager, Tony Fitzgerald.

Appointed using planning agreement cash, provided by the new Tesco store, Mr Fitzgerald and town shopkeepers will also have £10,000 at their disposal.

Early meetings have already taken place and Padiham Town Council has expressed an interest in becoming involved, with mayor Coun Alan Ravenscroft nominated to join the project’s board.

Coun Andy Tatchell, who represents Gawthorpe ward, said: “This can only be good for the centre of Padiham.”