Consultants from DTZ Pieda have submitted the first version of the Northwich Vision Plan to Vale Royal Borough Council.

Senior councillors, officers and representatives of British Waterways, who helped fund the project, will discuss it in the next couple of weeks.

It is then likely to be discussed by councillors behind closed doors before the public have the chance to have a look for themselves.

"An officer of the council is going through the report to make sure the consultants have fulfilled their contractual obligations," said a spokesman.

"There will definitely be public participation after that. The public will be given every opportunity to comment on it. We want their feedback."

The consultants were asked to come up with ways to:

Deal with the salt mine blight

Transform Northwich's waterfront area

And prepare the town for the next millennium - focusing on leisure, shopping, housing and transport.

The strategy is costing £35,000.

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