New Bacup town designs unveiled
ANEW public realm scheme for Bacup has been unveiled after controversial previous plans for a double roundabout were scrapped.
The Bacup Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) board has drawn up new draft proposals to improve St James Square and is now canvassing public opinion.
The scheme is the third public realm proposal to be considered in three years, and replaces its £747,000 predecessor - abandoned last month in the face of opposition from residents, traders, and local county councillors who insisted that the Coronation fountain should be retained.
In the latest designs, the 1953 fountain and roundabout will remain in their existing location, with the footways outside shops on either side widened to seven metres.
In a statement, Rossendale council’s regeneration chief Coun Andy MacNae said the THI board had met to consider new proposals for “improvement to the open space and road layout of Bacup.”
He added: “Lancashire County Council have devised a new affordable scheme which we all agreed will go some way to meeting our ambition to make the town centre a better place.”
Existing footways along St James Street and throughout the square onto Burnley Road would be re-paved, while taxi waiting bays and disabled parking would be created on Tower Street, and two new zebra crossings would be installed on St James Street and Market Street.
The bus stand on St James Street would also be relocated to Market Street, with the site being considered for a ‘Christmas tree or similar seasonal feature’, while the planters would be removed to create more ‘open space’.
Coun MacNae added: “We will now invite residents and businesses to give their views on this revised scheme and tweak it as necessary, although I believe most people will be supportive of what we have agreed.
“It’s important to point out that alongside the THI we are working hard to bring vacant buildings, like the old Woolworths, back into use, we are looking at how the market can work better, at improving parking, better security through new CCTV and at attracting new investment to Bacup.”
A public meeting will be held at the A, B and D centre on Burnley Road in Bacup on Thursday, November 9 from 2pm to 8pm to discuss the plans, which form the second phase of the £2 million lottery-funded Townscape Heritage Initiative.