If forthcoming, it will help to boost existing facilities including promotions, marketing and CCTV, as well as funding new developments.

The money will double the borough council's current financial contribution to Warrington Now.

New developments could include a "meet and greet" service - popular in America - whereby ranger type people help visitors to find their way round the town, as well as boosting its security profile.

Warrington Now is to become part of Warrington 2000 Plus, a public and private partnership company which promotes the economic development of the town as a whole.

Paul Rice, town centre manager, said the move would benefit both organisations, since the town centre was a key element of the economic strategy of the town.

As a result of the development, Warrington Now will have its own board, giving it a more formal identity. This may encourage leading companies to put money into town centre initiatives.

Paul said that a new business plan would be developed. Proposals include:

A town centre "health check" on issues such as property values, property rental and the amount of vacant property.

An "attitudinal" survey into what people like and don't like about the town, what they think of matters such as signage, environment and shops.

In addition, Warrington Now aims to maintain retailing at its existing level. It will encourage pavement cafes. It will continue to encourage town centre development, such as Winwick Bridge and the extension to Golden Square, and also quality leisure for a broader age group.

Warrington Now has supported the borough council in carrying out sizeable improvements which include:

Refurbishment of Bridge Street.

Market improvements.

Introduction of Shopmobility.

Pub Watch, a paging link with the police.

CCTV.

A retailers' radio link with the police.

Paul believes that the new Trafford Centre will take some money from Warrington. "I don't think it will decimate the town centre, but it is clearly a threat and we can use that to focus minds on where we need to go."

He said companies such as Next, which has expanded to a bigger shop in Horsemarket Street, the Virgin superstore in Golden Square, the Big Bar and Hartleys in Bridge Street, and Jeffrey Rogers, at Market Gate, had shown confidence in the town. "Warrington will survive beyond Trafford," said Paul.

"Town centres are more than the retail scene. The key role for Warrington Now is to manage change in the town centre and understand that it has to remain viable. We have to encourage mixed use, both leisure and residential."

Paul said there were areas of empty office property, such as Palmyra Square, where there were properties to let that could be used for housing.

NICKY Dibb, chairman of Warrington Now, said that the nucleus of the town centre was acceptable, but some areas were not.

She quoted the link bridge from Golden Square to the proposed Winwick Bridge development, an area at the bottom of Bridge Street, and other closed down properties, as being eyesores.

Golden Square, of which Nicky is manager, has had a £20,000 smarten up with new paint, seating, and cleaning of the old market structure.

Nicky said she thought that most of Bridge Street, and Cockhedge, were nice. "There are pockets, and voids, that need monitoring on a regular basis. We could do lovely hoardings," she said.

MICHAEL Hancock, executive committee member of Warrington Now, and a director of Hancock and Wood, said he thought the town centre was looking as good as it ever had.

He said he would like to see the market forecourt near Boots and Times Square looking better. "It needs a face-lift," he said.

Michael also wants to see proposed improvements in Horsemarket Street and Buttermarket Street moving ahead.

He said the refurbishment of Bridge Street had been well received and the water feature had been much admired. "Perhaps the council doesn't get as many plaudits as it should," he said. "In the future, the Trafford Centre could cause problems, unless we are on top form. The town will have to pull together."

IAN Carroll, of Fatty Arbuckles eaterie at Riverside Retail Park, said he had looked at properties in other parts of the country before choosing Warrington.

"I was impressed by its potential for the future and the prospect of growth," said Ian, who is a member of Warrington Now.

"I am very happy with the retail park. We would like to see more customers. The park needs a leisure magnet to attract more people, and there is space for this," he said.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.