A TOWN centre's future has been put in safe hands with the appointment of a new manager determined to make a difference.

John Partridge has spent most of his life on Teesside and hopes to use his local knowledge to drive forward a strategy for Redcar, by working with a newly-established town centre executive.

The appointment of Mr Partridge, 50, is being hailed as part of an exciting future for the seaside town - with the £26m Regent Walk Shopping Centre due to open later this year and the development of the executive.

The group is made up of people with a special interest in the future of the town centre, chaired by Glenn Preedy, Redcar and Cleveland College's European Social Fund project co-ordinator.

It wants to develop a shared vision for the future of the town.

Mr Partridge said yesterday: "Regent Walk will be a great development for the town.

"It will raise its profile and I see it as a key element in a total mix of what we need to achieve over the next five years.

"We have to make sure that retailers are comfortable with Redcar as a business centre and 17 out of the 23 units at Regent Walk have already gone.

"Our aim is to have them all open by the time it opens, in October.

"Everything we do must have targets and our customers - whether they are local people who come shopping, or day visitors attracted by the seaside - need to see something is being done for the longer term good."

Another milestone in the multi-million pound shopping development was reached yesterday, with the reopening of the Lord Street link road, to the relief of traders.

The road was closed to allow for gas main diversion work, but now Lord Street links to West Dyke Road.

Mr Partridge said: "There are development plans for Coatham Enclosure as well - it really is the start of a new era for Redcar.

"I want to develop the town centre into a successful and flourishing town centre."