A 'MARQUEE' retailer could come to Prestwich and spark a multi-million-pound transformation of the town centre.

Bury Council bosses are in talks with a developer linked to the major retailer to persuade them to set up shop in the Longfield Centre.

The brand is so big, sources say, the developers would be able to fund a massive overhaul of the precinct, confident that other retailers would be attracted to the centre.

In a charm offensive that began in early June, the council's chief executive Mike Owen has been hoping to prove to the firm that it will help make the Longfield Centre as attractive as possible.

The council has set up a £2 million fund to improve Bury New Road between Kingswood Road and Church Lane, boosting traffic flow while making the area more accessible to shoppers and cyclists.

Following an inquiry from the local Lib Dems about future plans for the centre of Prestwich, township co-ordinator Ruth Shedwick replied in an e-mail: "The council has made resources available to improve the A56 as part of its commitment to regenerate Prestwich Village centre.

"Proposals for Prestwich are being worked up in the context of discussions with a developer around the Longfield Centre.

"Options for the highway work have been developed and these will be the subject of widespread public consultation, but only following the discussions with the developer."

Holyrood Cllr Tim Pickstone, of the Lib Dems, welcomed the news but emphasised the need for residents to be consulted.

He said: "If people want to invest in Prestwich then that is great news, but it is also important that local people are involved about decisions about the local area.

"Labour councillors have been promising investment in Bury New Road for two years now, but we have seen nothing.

"Apparently, they have been working on plans and are happy to discuss these plans with a private developer, but not discuss them with the people of Prestwich.

"When it comes to the future of our village centre, nothing should be more important than the views of local residents."

Town hall chiefs, who have spent the last decade trying to refurbish the Longfield Centre, are keeping tight-lipped as to the identity of the brand, which could be a supermarket or department store.

Senior council sources have said that the local authority is confident that the big name would prove to be a catalyst for positive change but identifying them now might scupper a deal.

The £2 million road improvement fund is made up of £500,000 council cash, a £500,000 Government grant obtained by Transport for Greater Manchester and another £1 million that the council has said it intends to borrow.

Bury Council leader, Cllr Mike Connolly, who is the council's business engagement and regeneration representative, declined to comment.

When giving his Budget speech at the town hall in February, he said: "We promised we would invest in growth in Prestwich — and we have.

"Of course, we know that true regeneration involves a wide-ranging package of measures.

"Simply improving facilities along the A56 for pedestrians, shoppers and drivers in isolation makes no sense.

"We will redouble our efforts to engage with other stakeholders to bring forward just such a wider set of proposals."