Knutsford seeks public realm design team
Feasibility studies will be undertaken to explore highway and safety improvement options, paving the way for a detailed masterplan intended to unlock wider regeneration in the Cheshire market town.
Knutsford Council is seeking a town centre public realm design team to be procured on an £80,000 contract, running from 15 January to 31 March.
The selected firms will carry out eight feasibility studies around the Cheshire market town, evaluating possible upgrades to Princess Street, King Edward Road, Moorside Road, and Canute Place.
These studies follow the council’s 2019/2020 From Top to Bottom Street report, which proposed a limited vehicular accessibility scheme to control the flow and destination of traffic in the town centre. The report also proposed new multi-storey car parks and public realm areas.
Following positive consultations on the proposals, the council now wants to assess different aspects of the report to determine its viability and costs before it becomes a key part of the Knutsford town centre masterplan.
This stage of work is being funded via the Shared Prosperity Fund.
Firms have until 8 January to apply to carry out these studies and assist in the designs of the final masterplan, which will be developed with Cheshire East Council.
So Cheshire East is staring into the financial abyss and possibly going to serve a Section 114 notice .Probably the right time to appoint a public realm design team for Knutsford then.Oh its funded, so lets spend …
By Anonymous
What an absolute joke Cheshire East are, spending public money again when they claim to be almost bankrupt. They have also introduced separate green bin costs yearly to further burden people and yet they continue to spend money they don’t have.
By Anonymous
@ December 12, 2023 at 11:29 am
By Anonymous
It’s actually Knutsford Council (the civil parish). Please read the article carefully before commenting.
I’m pleased this happening. Knutsford is one of my favourite towns in the North West with a fine array of buildings, including the unique Gaskell Memorial, but the public realm could be better.
By Rye&Eggs
> “Knutsford Council is seeking a town centre public realm”
Commenters – “OMG Cheshire East Council idiots”. Sigh.
Anyhow, I hope they pedestrianise King St and Princess St. Very badly needed. Cars should not be driven along either.
By Flixton resident
First time I went to Knutsford I vowed never again – what a dissappointment. Essentially a car park with some buildings scattered randomly. Barely any space for pedestrians whatsoever. Looking forward to seeing this come to fruition, it could return Knutsford to being an actual town again – for people! Instead of just a rat-run and storage area for cars
By Anonymous
….’which will be developed with Cheshire East Council.’
By Anonymous
No cars = No people = dead town
By DH
@December 12, 2023 at 3:36 pm
By Anonymous
CEC is the Highways Authority so public realm projects would naturally have to tie up with planning and managing road traffic.
Otherwise, this project is spearheaded by Knutsford Town Council.
By Rye&Eggs
Cheshire East will only be involved as they are the Local Highway Authority for the streets. The town council is driving the scheme. Anyone got the key for that plan in the image?
By Albert
@December 12, 2023 at 3:47 pm
By DH
Knutsford has been around far longer than the car.
Please stop making a fool of yourself.
By Rye&Eggs
Interesting that Knutsford Town Council claimed positive consultations on the proposals!
My feedback included:
1. Proposal likely to reduce trade in Knutsford – have any of the retailers been asked for their views?
2. Has anyone at the Knutsford Town Council performed a risk assessment on these proposals?
3. Incompetent proposal for accessing Princess Street via the car park behind Waitrose, due to limited visibility?
4. Moorside is not a suitable road for significant vehicle usage, due to the river Lily.
By Anonymous
Knutsford could be even better if the focus of the town centre was pedestrians enjoying a visit instead of massive cars driving down very narrow streets.
By Anonymous
No good having pedestrian areas without having some good free parking. Multi storey car par would look awful in knutsford.
By Ken