REGENERATION bosses are keen to reassure Northwich residents their town has not been forgotten.

In last week’s Guardian we revealed the Northwich Vision partnership ended when new council Cheshire West and Chester came into force on April 1.

In the light of this, and in addition to the recession, the town’s hopes for a cultural centre, new shops, bars, cafes and a multiplex cinema seemed doomed.

But CWAC’s regeneration team is urging townsfolk not to lose faith.

Clr Herbert Manley, said: “Northwich Vision is still here, it hasn’t gone away – it’s moving forward.”

The Guardian met Clr Manley, Clr Keith Musgrave, Weaver Valley team leader Catherine Fox and regeneration officer Cliff Mallows on Monday to discuss the vision’s future.

The team’s argument is that, although the original partnership of Vale Royal Borough Council, Cheshire County Council, British Waterways, English Partnerships and the North West Development Agency dissolved seven months ago, a new one, as yet nameless, will be established during the next few months to take the vision forward.

This aims to be a bigger and better partnership linking Northwich’s regeneration plans with proposals for Winsford as well as for Middlewich, in Cheshire East Council’s area.

Mr Mallows said: “This will be a powerful strategic partnership with two large unitary authorities driving it forward.”

The team stressed there was still a legal agreement with developer Wilson Bowden and talks were ongoing, but the recession meant the original vision plans were not feasible.

Mr Mallows said: “We can’t produce a scheme that was achievable in 2006 when there has been a 40 per cent drop in commercial value, but there is still the potential for a scheme in Northwich.

“The positive thing is that we are still talking with our developer – while developers have walked away from projects in Preston and Stockport – so that shows there’s something still worth pursuing.”

He added: “These schemes will always have a long gestation period but we came to the end of the mines stabilisation and have been walloped by the recession.”

Clr Manley said the council was also still waiting for reports on the success of the mines stabilisation scheme from the Environment Agency.

Mr Mallows said: “The confidence in the economy will return and when that happens we are right at the front and will be hitting the ground running.”

As proof of its commitment to Northwich, CWAC will invest £250,000 in tidying up the town in the short term.

Mr Mallows said: “We’ll be tidying up the public realm and looking at how we can improve things quickly.

“We want to put a bit more confidence in the town.

“It’s something we will roll out soon – some before Christmas and some after Christmas.”

Weaver Vale MP Mike Hall said he was unconvinced by the council’s pledge.

“Tidying up the public realm is what they should be doing anyway, it’s the bread-and-butter work of the local authority,” he said.

“What we want is some leadership and some vision. The vision bit isn’t difficult – it’s in place because of the comprehensive vision for Northwich brought about by the in depth consultation and work by Vale Royal Borough Council.

“The building blocks are in place because the mines have been filled in and land released.

“What’s lacking is leadership.”