A KEY part of an £80m scheme to transform a rundown area of Bolton will go on public display next week.

The Pikes Lane initiative is part of the "3Ds" Challenge Fund Partnership scheme to revive the Deane, Derby and Daubhill areas.

The centrepiece of the scheme is the replacement of Pikes Lane primary school with a new building which will include community facilities, as well as a new-look health centre, new housing and recreational facilities such as a small play area for toddlers. An open day and consultation will be held at Pikes Lane junior school building, Deane Road, from 3.30pm to 7pm on Wednesday.

Everyone living, working and employing people in the area is invited.

Children at Pikes Lane are already working on a project to produce pictures and essays of how they would like to see their school develop.

Bolton Council was granted £11.8m from the Government's Challenge Fund and together with private funding for housing and other schemes, the total investment in the area will be around £80m over the next four years. Cllr Guy Harkin, chairman of the 3Ds partnership team, said: "This is one of the first major projects we are tackling in the area.

"It will mean tremendous change to many people and we want and need them to be involved and have a say in what is being planned.

"It's their neighbourhood, their community and their lives which will be changed and, hopefully improved, by the initiative and we want them to be comfortable with what is being done for their future."

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