PLANS to transform Radcliffe's town centre into a busy urban neighbourhood are coming closer to reality.

A new bus station, covered market, relocated post office and secondary school are all planned for the town.

At the Radcliffe Area Board meeting on Monday (13/09), Heather Clark, the strategy, resources and European manager for Bury Council, provided residents with an update.

She said: "Independent consultants URBED have identified a vision for Radcliffe to become a distinctive urban neighbourhood seen as a good place to live by those looking for a base in north Manchester.

"It will be focused on a dense, lively local centre providing the community's shopping, leisure and cultural needs and will be known as a centre for the arts."

A number of mixed use blocks, comprising residential flats and retail outlets to bring more residents and customers into the town, are also included in the proposals which are expected to be completed by the end of the year.

A consultation period will start early January and the proposals are likely to be presented to Radcliffe Area Board in February, with the results fed back to Bury Council in March.

Details of the new secondary school to be sited at the former East Lancashire Paper Mill, are still being finalised but the local education authority expect the school to be occupied by September 2007, with construction work starting late autumn 2005, once planning permission has been approved.

Councillor Barry Briggs, said: "This is of great importance to our town and it is important to keep the residents updated."