The Evening Post can now publish the results of a poll on the long-awaited regeneration project as developers prepare to unveil their vision for the future.

City leaders have now demanded a timetable for the scheme and details of how it will reshape the city centre from the Preston Tithebarn Partnership (PTP), made up of developers Grosvenor and Lend Lease.

And to help keep the public informed, the PTP and council has opened the Tithebarn Information Centre in the Prince's Building in Lancaster Road to show detailed plans of the site for the first time.

The office is open daily until Wednesday, June 11, from 10am to 4pm.

Some of the findings of the survey, which involved 366 Evening Post and lep.co.uk readers, include: 52% not believing the project will ever happen; 61% saying information about the scheme has been poorly communicated; but two-thirds believing the project will have a positive impact.

PTP project manager Anthony Gill said the survey results were "encouraging" in that residents were asking for more details on the Tithebarn scheme and they would be able to get them at the new information centre.

He added: "People will have the opportunity to ask questions and view the model and information panels to understand the plans fully."

Preston Council chief executive, Jim Carr, said the survey results were "interesting" and added: "There is a lot of support for Tithebarn and regenerating the city centre and people want to know more about what it will mean for Preston."

Frank McKenna, chairman of business lobbying group Downtown Preston in Business, said the survey sent "some clear messages" to developers and council bosses.

He said: "The fact more than half think it will never happen tells you there are big lessons to be learned.

Preston Chamber of Trade chief executive Nicholas Watson said he believed the survey underlined there was "a tremendous amount of work to be done" and added: "It has become obvious that Preston is crying out for regeneration.

"But the flip side to statistics like 81% of people think the city centre needs regenerating and 79% of them think the market hall need refurbishment, is a damning indictment of where we find ourselves today."

Rob Binns, of Browns and Truth on Glover's Court, said Preston required "a large influx" of cafes, restaurants and bars.

Our survey showed 21% agreed Tithebarn should bring restaurants, another 21% want more leisure facilities and 11% want more pubs and bars.

But, Hilary Mitchell, manager of Fastline Superbikes on Church Street, said she felt "embarrassed" at the current state of the city centre.

She said: "Everything has been put on hold for too many years."

County Coun Tony Martin, cabinet member for sustainable development, said the 62% of people who did not think Preston's iconic bus station should be demolished needed "a wake-up call".