An increasing number of empty shop fronts have given a sad look to many of the main shopping areas in the city centre

A council consultation on the future of Preston city centre is open for comments.

The plan states “it must aim the boost the High Street” and “must deliver something new for Preston, something that will brng people, from all sections of the community, back into the city centre.”

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Empty shopfronts on some of the major shopping areas are to be identified with the council highlighting the Church Street, Manchester Road and Guild Hall Arcade as particular problems.

The Action Plan for the city centre will run until 2016 and responses to the consultation are invited up until 5pm on Wednesday 19 December 2012.

Councillor John Swindells, cabinet member for planning and regulation, said: “This plan will include new policies and allocations to guide the future development of the city centre in challenging economic times.

“The city council has undergone various stages of consultation on the city centre in the last few years which have given us a flavour of the big issues and peoples views towards them. Before we press ahead with firm plans for the city centre we want to give people another chance to have their say.

“This is an informal period of consultation and all responses will help to inform the next stage of the Plan, the ‘Preferred Options’ scheduled for consultation in Spring 2013.”

You can view the city centre plan on the council website and details on how to leave your feedback are also there.

What do you think can be done to improve the city centre? Do you visit the city centre? Let us know your views in the comments below