A multi-million pound "masterplan" to improve Stratford-upon-Avon over the next 20 years has been launched.
The World Class Vision for Stratford features proposals to regenerate and redevelop the historic town.
A spokesman for the project said the aim was to make the town more attractive "while making sure all the heritage is completely unaffected".
He said the regional development agency Advantage West Midlands has earmarked £5m for the plan's first stage.
Stratford District Council and Warwickshire County Council are also key partners behind the plans.
They are hoping to work with various other partners and bodies, the spokesman for the World Class Stratford Strategy said.
"We do not use the river to its fullest potential. "
He said the aim was to boost tourism to the town, which was its main economy and that the number of visitors "had dwindled over the last 20 years", although millions of people a year still visited.
A "combination of factors" had led to the proposals, including that some parts of town built in the 1960s and 1970s, "were looking out-of-date", he added.
The proposals included a wetlands visitor centre and developing a "canal quarter" to make better use of the tow path with perhaps retail or other developments.
Les Topham, the leader of Stratford District Council, said one issue is to get traffic out of the town centre.
He added: "We do not use the river to its fullest potential. The town has some beautiful buildings and some lovely places to visit.
"I would like to see more formal gardens in Stratford so people can enjoy their time here and its the intention of the World Class Stratford Strategy group to increase the time of people staying here."
^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~44~RS~)