SCORES of residents have grabbed the chance to quiz the experts over the multi-million pound regeneration of Farnworth town centre.

Plans for the development were put on display at Farnworth Library yesterday with staff from the architects and planning consultants on hand to answer questions from the public.

On view were drawings put on display on behalf of developer St Modwen which is set to plough £10 million into a shopping parade at the Market Precinct and a new development between Brackley Street and King Street.

Included in the plans are six new stores covering 23,000 sq ft and a first floor gym.

There will also be improvements to open space including pavements, benches, bins and trees.

The nearby bus station will also be transformed as Bolton Council chiefs make increasing footfall in the area a high priority.

AEW Architect associate Gareth Jones explained the drawings to members of the public along with Nicola Berry of planning consultants Pegasus.

Also present was Farnworth councillor Noel Spencer, who chatted with members of the public about the scheme.

Cllr Spencer reiterated that the people of Farnworth “have been waiting a long time” for such a scheme after two false starts during the last decade.

“The problem was ownership of the precinct changed hands just as things looked like they would start moving forward,” said Cllr Spencer.

“St Modwen have a really good reputation for successfully completing schemes like this in other parts of the country.

“They have worked very closely with the council’s regeneration team to try to get this scheme exactly right.”

Mr Jones said that the public were showing a lot of “positive interest” in the scheme.

“They appear to be hopeful and excited about what is going to take shape,” he said.

Ms Berry said the display was part of the “pre-application” process in which members of the public could make constructive contributions to the scheme.

“It is important for us to get feedback from the public, particularly at this stage,” she said.

Plans will go before Bolton Council next month after deliberations which have gone on for years.