THE worth of any 'grand plan' is measured in the detail and quality of its final execution. But the regeneration plans unveiled today for Blackburn town centre are both bold and exciting.

Although there are many strands to them, the most eye-catching has to be opening up the River Blakewater.

Getting this scheme from the drawing board to reality will depend on the engineering difficulties and the amount of money required.

Underpinning the regeneration vision is a desire to circumvent the barrier presented by the indoor shopping centre, to get more people living in the town centre - and to improve the quality of the retail provision. If these goals can be achieved the result should change the atmosphere of the town's heart and make it far more attractive for people of all ages, particularly late at night.

Another idea is to move the bus station so that ranks of buses are not the first thing to greet visitors arriving by train.

Buses will still be near, just not so highly visible, because travellers need to have an integrated transport system.

These are early days and there are may hurdles to overcome.

But for now let us welcome this imaginative concept and hope that, with a productive consultation process, the wheels can be set in motion for the next major phase in Blackburn's regeneration.