An exhibition has been launched as part of a public consultation over the new £2 million redevelopment of Accrington town centre.

A new public square is to be created outside Accrington Town Hall and will include a lasting tribute to the Accrington Pals.

Heritage bosses are appealing for local people to have their say on how the square should look and what activities it will include.

It is part of a new exhibition taking place at the Accrington Market Hall where visitors will also be treated to a glimpse of the new £6 million Accrington bus station.

The new bus station is now due to open in May 2016, it has been confirmed.

The ‘Looking Up and Down at the Town Centre History’ exhibition also features photographs taken by Accrington Camera Club, which is chronicling a visual history of changes to Accrington town centre.

Annette Birch, townscape heritage officer, told the Observer: “It’s about involving people in the local heritage and capturing the changes that are happening now, looking back to what was and what it could be in the future.

“We will be creating a new town square and are looking for ideas about what people want and how they want to use the space.

“We want them to come forward with their design ideas and activities that will help attract people to the new square.

“A key part of it will be remembering the Accrington Pals and we want to somehow integrate the story of the Pals.”

A workshop has also been held where participants created prints from old photographs to celebrate the town’s rich heritage’.

Annette said: “There is a wonderful, spectacular heritage here and people see it every day with all the big buildings and places like the town hall and market hall. We want as many people as possible to come along and see what is happening and have their say.”

Proposed changes to parking times on surrounding streets, including Blackburn Road, Warner Street, Cannon Street and Oak Street, are also on display.

The exhibition will be available for viewing at Accrington Market Hall during daily opening times from Friday, September 18 to Saturday, September 26.

Officers will be on hand for questions and discussions on Friday and Saturday, September 18-19, between 10am and 3pm and from Monday to Friday, September 21-25 between 10am and 12noon.

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