A RIVERSIDE pub, new bus station and different market are among the ideas being put forward to further redevelop Northwich.

The town council is putting forward a number of suggestions for the second phase of the Barons Quay development and the regeneration of the Weaver Square and Watling Street area.

At the council's latest meeting Cllr Brian Jamieson said the former dairy site could be the perfect location for Northwich Market and a pub should be built at the riverside park, which will open later this year as part of the first phase of Barons Quay.

He also suggested that changes to Weaver Square and Watling Street could be an opportunity to relocate the bus station off-road so that it does not impede traffic flow on the gyratory.

His other proposals for the area were the temporary relocation of the library service as its current building, in Witton Street, is in need of refurbishment, and a hotel and conference centre for Watling Street.

Cllr Paul Dolan said: "These are good suggestions being made by Cllr Jamieson and it comes back to some of the original vision we had for the town."

He added: "This is about confidence in town and anything we say shouldn't undermine or jeopardise confidence in the town.

"There are a lot of positive things happening.

"At the same time it's absolutely the case that we are entitled to have our views of what we would like to see to reflect some of the things that the people of Northwich have asked previously."

Cllr Sam Naylor said: "The first phase of Barons Quay, which is a huge project, will be delivered on time and hopefully will breathe fresh life into our town.

"The roadworks will ultimately be completed and improve access into town so I think we have got to be positive.

"The last thing we want to do is perhaps put off potential companies that might want to come to Northwich."

He also repeated his calls for improvements to the single-lane Winnington Bridge and said pressure needed to be put on Weaver Vale and Tatton MPs Graham Evans and George Osborne for Government funding.

Members of the town council are meeting Cheshire West and Chester Council officers to discuss their ideas on Thursday.