The Lancashire Evening Post can reveal members of Preston Council's city centre committee can throw out the controversial plans for a stage, water fountain and fibre optic lighting on Winckley Square.

But they can also give the green light to the £3m plans which have divided opinion.

Jim Carr, chief executive of the council, told them: "The decision on whether this scheme goes ahead is yours.

"Don't think that the Vision Board is going to make a decision over your head.

"It won't and it can't."

Coun Ken Hudson, committee chairman, suggested the group discarded the plans but failed to win any support.

He said: "If this committee wants to make a decision now that we scrap the Winckley Square development we can do that."

A total of 59 people made written comments on the design during a week-long consultation exercise at the end of July and dozens more made comments during a stormy meeting at the Town Hall.

Mike Brogan, assistant director of city projects at Preston Council, said: "We've recalled the selection committee and they've gone through these comments. They've made recommendations."

Coun Bhikhu Patel (Lab), a member of the city centre committee, said the results of the consultation should be made public.

He said: "This was a public consultation and people are interested to know what happened."

Mr Brogan said this information would be available at the next meeting on Monday, October 13.

Campaigners have said the project could never happen because of a legal dispute with the 30 owners of land in the square.

But Mr Brogan said: "Legal issues have to be resolved regardless of what we do to it because they have been outstanding for some 40 or 50 years."

Coun Eric Fazackerley (Con), deputy leader of the council, said some of the opposers had "an agenda already prepared."



>> Vote in our latest web poll