Nelson to unveil new town centre
A £2m public realm project to improve the heart of the Lancashire mill town is nearing completion, with details announced of a day of celebration on Saturday 20 August.
The event will mark the completion of a new central area and tree-lined boulevard, replacing the windswept pedestrianised centre.
Cars will be able to drive down the high street for the first time in more than 20 years and there's a new cycle lane.
A new 12-metre high sculpture of a weaving loom shuttle has been created by artist Dave Palmer to mark the heart of the east Lancashire mill Nelson.
"We're in the final countdown to the launch of a new Nelson town centre," said Pendle Council's leader, Cllr Mike Blomeley.
The celebrations will include Walk the Plank's Art Car Parade at the front of which TV presenter Tony Livesey will be arriving in style in a miniature wooden Rolls-Royce with Pendle's Mayor Cllr Nadeem Ahmed.
The day of free entertainment will also feature 'colourful chopper dash as riders from Pendle try out the new cycle way', live folk and brass band music, Lancashire mill town song and poetry readings by Borderline Theatre Company and a Nelson Monopoly inspired tricycle designed by Brierfield artist Roger Hesketh using photos supplied by local people.
Turismo Grannies, billed as 'Britain's only formation shopping trolley team', will also descend on Nelson in their souped-up shopping trolleys.
"Having a really attractive public space in our town centre and re-opening the road is something which residents, traders and Pendle Council have wanted to do for years," explained Blomeley.
The public realm work was funded by the North West Regional Development Agency with £1.21m and the European Regional Development Fund gave £950,000.
