Preston seeks feedback on public realm upgrades
Active travel is the name of the game for the local authority’s Friargate South scheme, which would provide a north-south cycle link in the city centre while also beautifying the area.
The project focuses on a stretch in the city centre that connects Fishergate with The Harris and Flag Market, as well as the Friargate North public realm project. Provided Friargate South secures planning permission, the completion of both Friargate schemes would result in an improved pedestrian and cycle link between Fishergate to the University of Central Lancashire campus.
Proposals drawn up by Planit and Eric Wright Civil Engineering include creating a clearly identified shared zone for pedestrians, cyclists, and service vehicles on Friargate South – one with new paving so it is hard to miss. There would also be three granite-paved courtesy crossings on Friargate South, and another two on Cheapside.
The plans for Preston City Council also include the introduction of a contraflow cycle lane by the Flag Market and the installation of benches, rain gardens, litter bins, and cycle stands. An array of trees would also be planted.
Preston City Council Leader Cllr Matthew Brown “the missing piece of the puzzle” when it came to improving the city centre.
Brown continued: “The works that will include new pavements, cycle paths, seating, trees and landscaping, will tie in with what has already been achieved in other areas of the city centre, providing better links with the Harris Quarter and the University of Central Lancashire campus, as well as other existing pedestrian and cycle networks in the city.
It will also make the area more attractive to encourage new retail outlets to the area and fits in with our plans for cultural enrichment and diversity of leisure and entertainment in the central hub.”
Funding for the project comes from the city council and its successful £20m Levelling Up Fund bid. This will provide the finances for most of Friargate South – with the city council ready to deliver upgrades to Orchard Street’s public realm should it secure additional money.
A consultation on Friargate South will conclude on 21 January and can be accessed at preston.gov.uk/article/8127/Transforming-Friargate-South-Project. Provided the city council can proceed with its ideal timeline, construction work on the project could start this autumn with the scheme completing the following spring.
The best way to beautify the area would be to demolish those awful buildings!
By Bentley Driver
I agree demolish those terrible 60s and 70s buildings and rebuild the city centre.
By Tom
I am very much in seeing Friargate South improvement scheme but getting sick and tired of facilitating space for cyclists.
Cyclists abuse any space allocated for them riding any direction they wish to travel and the worst offender are food delivery cyclists
By George
What a waste of money providing more generally unused cycle lanes. The one on Penwortham is very seldom in use.
By Anonymous
It’s not worth what it’s cost 😔
By Anonymous
Preston council wasting yet more money on something that nobody wants or will use. What a shock.
Telling us that this would be completed inside 6 months is the biggest joke of all. It took nearly 3 years to get a 150m stretch paved on the opposite side of the road, as they allowed everyone and their dog to purposely drag it out while the council stood looking on gormlessly. Those contracts need thoroughly investigating because something stinks.
Don’t even get me started on the disgusting Ashton park football pitches debacle. Destroying thriving wooded areas around a beautiful Georgian mansion to install football pitches that nobody wants, simply because they have £10m levelling up funding burning a hole in their pockets and need to spend it on “something” before it get reallocated elsewhere. Disgusting.
By Jack Burton
Generic comment about being mildly inconvenienced by a scheme which will benefit cyclists.
By Levelling Up Manager
Blanket Demolish is the best way forward for the City of Preston. CPO’s should be implemented, the sticking plaster approach will never encourage investment from outside of Lancashire,
By Investor
@January 15, 2024 at 12:14 pm
By Investor
Blanket demolition is the approach of dinosaurs. Smart, selective editing out of useless structures and/or retrofit is the way forward.
Preston need to attract more independents – the days of big multiples in the city centre are gone.
Places like Sheffield and Altrincham do selective urban plot regeneration rather than thoughtlessly clearing large sections of their urban cores.
By Rye&Eggs
Altrincham is turning itself into a beautiful town. Once the other satellite towns follow, which some have already started, you’re looking at a pretty decent city region. Rochdale in particular has some fantastic public realm added recently with lots more to come.
By Anonymous