Town centre facelift work gets under way
The revitalisation of central Blenheim got underway this week, with work starting at Bythell Place on Monday.
Two raised grass pods outside Cornerstone Bar, on the corner of Maxwell Rd and Queen St, are being removed, as well as three other pods outside Scotch Bar.
Marlborough District Council community and project support manager Katie Cavell said this would be completed by October 15.
A mix of 12 large and small planter boxes would then be dotted around Bythell Place.
However, further work on the site would not be completed until after Easter next year as the council did not want to disrupt businesses during the busy summer season.
Cornerstone Bar owner Ryan McQuillan said he welcomed the area opening up. ‘‘We’ll have a few more opportunities to put up tables in better places,’’ he said.
Bythell Place had been closed off in the past to cater for events, including the Marlborough Wine and Food Festival. Anything that helped make the area more pedestrian friendly would be good for business, McQuillan said.
Blenheim Business Association spokesman Michael Fitzpatrick said the pods and a broken water feature had probably been put in 10 to 15 years ago. They were tired looking and dated, he said.
‘‘Times change and you need to move the town forward with the change.’’ Removing the pods was the first step, but once the town centre had been upgraded Fitzpatrick was confident businesses would benefit.
‘‘We’re aiming to raise the quality of the streetscape and create a familyfriendly vibe, which should benefit the town’s businesses by encouraging people to enjoy their town.’’
The Blenheim Business Association called for upgrades to sites around Blenheim in the council’s Long Term Plan submissions in June.
Work on Bythell Place was part of a $2 million plan to revitalise the town centre.
Five other sites, including Market Place and Lower Market St, would be redeveloped over the next two years.