AMBITIOUS £20 million plans to revitalise the town centre were welcomed this week by Widnes Traders Association.

Chairman Rona Leather said the radical plans were the only way of saving many businesses, struggling for survival on the edge of town.

She said: "It is going to be a big upheaval for a lot of people but if something like this doesn't happen, many traders could go out of business."

As exclusively revealed in the World a fortnight ago, 106 homes and 60 businesses face demolition to make way for two major retail developments.

Halton Council has teamed up with St Modwen Developments to regenerate Simms Cross and north Albert Road for the millennium.

A delegation of traders met St Modwen's regional director Michelle Taylor this week for a detailed explanation of the plans.

"Halton Council has been meeting with us once a month for the past year," said Rona, a florist in Widnes Road.

"They have promised to continue to see us on a regular basis so that we can discuss any difficulties as they arise."

A giant 90,000 sq ft foodstore - believed to be Asda - is being proposed on the site of the Simms Cross annexe of Halton College.

A row of shops in Widnes Road - from Cohens Glass to Ratcliffe's bakery - and all the properties in Lambert Court would have be bulldozed to make room for a 600 space car park and petrol station.

Business premises at the top of Albert Road and houses in Esther Street and Cross Street would also be knocked down for three 10,000 sq ft and one 5,000 sq ft non-food retail developments plus a 192 space car park.

Developers are confident they could attract big High Street variety stores into the town.

"I think it's going to be fabulous," said Rona. "Most of us feel now that if it is going to happen, let's get on with it.

"We have been told there is plenty of space in the town centre for businesses to re-locate.

"I know it's going to cause a lot of disturbance and upheaval but at the end of it we could have some superb shops.

"I was born in Simms Cross. I'd love to see it come back to life. We are also keen to see the top of Albert Road thrive again."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.