Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Plan to give three city back streets £600k spruce up
Three uninviting city centre back streets could be in line for a £600,000 spruce up.
The city council wants to make the improvements in Orange Street, Best Lane and The Friars and is asking local people and traders for their views.
It is also considering extending the pedestrian zone into The Friars to make the area in front of the Marlowe Theatre more pedestrian-friendly and create opportunities for businesses to trade.
Similar plans for St George’s Street had to be put on the backburner because they failed to get public support amid an outcry over the possible loss of trees.
The council is hoping for a more positive response for its latest scheme, which it thinks could make the area more appealing and attract extra visitors.
The aim is to enhance the cultural area around the Marlowe Theatre, the Beaney and other venues. This would include upgrading the pavements to sawn Yorkstone paving, new road surfacing similar to that in Palace Street and Northgate, better street lighting and new seating and planters.
If the plans go ahead, access permits would be provided for residents and businesses in The Friars that have off-road parking.
The idea to the streets was first suggested by the council in 2016 as part of a package to transform parking and pedestrian areas in the city.
The proposal, which was gen- erally well-received, involved investment in a variety of projects, paid for specifically by increases in parking charges set out over four years.
Chairman of the council’s regeneration and property committee Cllr Ben Fitter-harding said: “Similar improvements in The King’s Mile have proved very popular, with surveys showing increased satisfaction in safety, cleanliness and atmosphere and businesses noting a rise in the number of shoppers.
“We’d like to see the same thing happen along Orange Street, Best Lane and The Friars and believe these proposals are the way to achieve it. Public views on the plans will be most welcome.”
The outcome of the consultation will be reported to the committee on Thursday, November 30. If approved, work is likely to start in early 2018.
To find out more and comment, go to www. canterbury.gov.uk/ streetimprovements by Sunday, November 12