WYRE'S Mayor will cut the first turf to launch Fleetwood's new look for the new millennium on Monday (January 10).

Mayor Coun Harry Taylor will perform the honours to start building work on a multi-million pound redevelopment of the town centre with new shops and a Morrisons superstore, creating more than 450 jobs for the port whose employment was hit badly by the decline in the fishing industry.

Sheffield-based developer Dransfield Properties is behind the project, involving demolition of a block of outdated properties in the port's main shopping area of Lord Street.

Managing director Mark Dransfield hailed the turf-cutting ceremony as "the first step forward to bringing about the town centre redevelopment of Fleetwood."

The scheme is close to the heart of Wyre Council, which wants the recession-hit centre of Fleetwood to be given a commercial boost similar to that generated by the Freeport Shopping Village on the former dockside.

The Dransfield Properties scheme, between the Freeport and the traditional town centre, will provide a physical link for shoppers to pass easily between the two. Fleetwood will also benefit from having its first major supermarket. Until now residents have had to travel to Cleveleys or elsewhere to find one of the big-name supermarkets.

Morrisons, recently voted Multiple Retailer of the Year, will then have two outlets on the Fylde Coast, adding to its existing store at Squires Gate.

Poundstretcher and the Your More chain are also committed to opening new stores in the development, which includes a replacement Jobcentre, next summer.

Coun Taylor performs the official turf-cutting ceremony on Monday (January 10) at 11.30am at the former Church Army site in Lord Street.

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