CREWE town centre could receive a boost if £750,000 funding under the Towns Fund is used to set up a Creative Hub.

The newly-established Crewe Town Board hopes to be given the go-ahead to spend the cash - part of an 'accelerated investment' from the government pot aimed at regenerating hard-hit towns in England – on amenities and arts activities centred around Lyceum Square.

The board, which met formally for the first time on September 18, has been formed to put forward an investment plan to bid for up to £25m which will be channelled into regeneration in Crewe.

Initially, though the much smaller cash sum is being handed out for a swift spend on one project which can improve the town centre.

In the summer Labour councillors called for the money to be spent on revamping the town's rundown bus station, but it is understood that investment on the Delamere Street interchange will be brought forward as part of the long-term Royal Arcade development.

In the short-term the board has opted to establish a Creative Hub for the arts based around Lyceum Square which would help support future market and outdoor events.

The project will have to delivered by March next year and Crewe Town Council could contribute some of its own town centre animation projects, including a suspended art display planned for Victoria Street, to develop the Hub scheme.

The council's town centre project officer Lindsay Lewis outlined: "An application has been made to the government as an advanced investment from the Towns Fund. Each town that was put forward for the funding was given the opportunity to apply for £750,000.

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"Some funds have been allocated for activity elsewhere in the town centre which align with what is being proposed, so it maybe be worth considering allocating those funds for the same activities and putting them in Lyceum Square."

The town centre project officer says because there was limited time available to make the application, some costing work still needs to be finalised on the Lyceum Square project.

She added: "It will depend on whether some highways changes are made whether that scheme can be funded from that £750,000 or not – if we start changing access and putting in bits of road then the costs could be very high."

Cllr Hazel Faddes said: "We do need to boost this area of town and encourage more people to come and this may just help. We could all do with some brightening up and relive our creative sides. It will be somewhere too come in the evenings and weekends."

Crewe Town Board's Investment Plan is being developed in partnership with Cheshire East, the town council and local residents with the aim of securing funding up to 2026 to support long-term economic growth in the town.