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Details revealed of a new look for the town
Artist impressions for Wigan Wallgate Improvement scheme
THIS is the first look at the pavement-cafe future planned for one of Wigan’s main thoroughfares.
It shows the pedestrian-friendly gateway to the heart of the town that shoppers and visitors can expect if a Wigan Council bid for Heritage Lottery cash is a success.
Residents will be able to have their own say on the £650,000 scheme when the outline Wigan Wallgate Townscape Heritage Initiative goes out to public consultation.
It sees the use of high quality street furniture and materials to remove clutter and open up a more attractive vista, along with the introduction of trees into the town centre landscape.
They will be implemented in three phases, starting at Wallgate Bridge to King Street as a priority as this key area gives visitors their first impression of Wigan.
Metro acting director of environment Gillian Bishop said that the area is currently giving a poor first impression of the town to visitors.
If and when funding is available, environmental improvements will continue up Wallgate and down Library Street in further phases.
The Wallgate and Library Street corridor has experienced significant changes since it was last subjected to major review more than a decade ago. Nightlife in the area has increased substantially, particularly as a result of the evening closure of King Street and extended drinking hours.
And the successful night bus scheme, plus organisational improvements to the taxi ranks, mean increased evening transport activity.
For the daytime economy, expansion of parking facilities at Wigan North Western has intensified its use as a park and ride facility. There is also increased interchange between the two stations to transfer from local services onto the West Coast Main Line’s inter-city expresses.
Ms Bishop said: “Looking at the future, the Wigan Life Centre will increase activity in the Library Street area, intensifying the already high demand for parking in that area.
“The Saddle Relief Road scheme, which now has the necessary funding for implementation early next year, will increase traffic capacity on the routes outside of the town centre
“This will permit the restriction of through traffic using the town centre, allowing the proposed environmental enhancements.”
She pointed out that the council’s policy of increasing pavement cafe life had resulted in several applications in this area and more demand for pavement cafes is expected to be created by the project.
Proposals to restrict traffic between King Street and Kings Street West to buses, cabs and cycles only - with through traffic directed to Chapel Lane/Caroline Street/ Wallgate alternative route - will also form part of the consultations.
Send us your opinions via email to wigan.observer@lancspublications.co.uk or write to Wigan Observer, Martland Mill, Martland Mill Lane, Wigan. WN5 0LX
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Friday 25 May 2012
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