FURIOUS residents are calling for Farnworth to be regenerated “urgently”.
Existing plans to revamp the market and precinct were scrapped when former owners Ediston sold the site for almost £5 million in 2011 to regeneration specialists St Modwen.
Bolton Council has now promised residents that they will be able to view the new plans in the summer.
Kathryn Carr, head of strategic development for Bolton Council said: “Hopefully by the summer we will have some plans to share.
“The market will be included in this process and we will consider a range of options which will include the market.”
But some residents remained sceptical about whether a market would be included in the plans.
Cllr Noel Spencer explained the whole town centre was being renovated with Section 106 money from the Tesco development. He said: “The money is for the town centre and not just for the market. We want to do is a first- class job. We had some fantastic plans with the previous owners.
“It is unfortunate that now they are not going ahead because they put the market and town centre up for sale.”
He added he was confident that a town centre revamp would go ahead. Cllr Spencer said: “We have a new owner and they have a first-class reputation across the UK for regeneration projects.”
Dianne Lemon, of Lord Street, said: “We feel Farnworth has really gone downhill. It just feels neglected. There used to be lots of shops and a cracking market but now there’s nothing. It can’t be because there’s no money, especially when you look at other towns like Bury and Leigh.”
Katherine Raby, of Church Road, added: “I can remember when I first moved here 40 years ago and it was a cracking little town but now it’s completely different. Anti-social behaviour is a big problem but we do have a fantastic police team — it’s just like the council that have forgotten us.”
A spokesperson for St Modwen said: “We are working towards at planning application but until then we cannot release any details of the plans.”
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