TWO major initiatives to improve Tyldesley and bring in funding to the area have been launched.

Tyldesley Town Partnership, in conjunction with Wigan Council, are hoping to launch a Townscape Heritage Initiative worth up to £2 million to improve the town.

The scheme, which will be funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, will support projects to refurbish properties, improve public spaces, such as car parks and renovate buildings and shop frontages in a bid to raise both the profile and commercial attraction of the town.

While the bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund will only be submitted in September officers from the fund have indicated that Tyldesley is eligible.

Councillor Jo Platt on behalf of Wigan Council said: "The Council is very supportive of investment opportunities for Tyldesley and we are delighted that these initiatives are progressing with Council support.

"We congratulate the Tyldesley Town Partnership for its positive and decisive approach to improving Tyldesley and its prospects for the future and we look forward to working with them moving forward."

The second initiative the Tyldesley Town Partnership has been successful in securing is a place on the Government’s Community Economic Development Programme.

Tyldesley is now one of only 50 areas in the UK accepted onto the Community Economic Development Programme which will help develop an economic plan for the town centre and provide Tyldesley with technical support and a grant of £5000 for any specialist works required to progress.

The two initiatives will bring fresh interest and new life to the town, attracting investment and new retail and leisure activities.

Ian Jackson, Chair of the Partnership said: "We are on the brink of a really exciting new future for Tyldesley.

"We are dependent on success with bids for funding but we have made excellent progress thus far and are optimistic for the bids and for the future of our town centre.

"We need to get the positive views of residents, shoppers and businesses to emphasise the support we have for our proposals and will welcome views on ways forward."