Have your say on Elland’s new car park plans
Three new plans for a car park in Elland have been proposed by the council – but all will mean losing some, if not all, the spaces. The original suggestion, and still one of the three options, includes removing all the bays and instead planting trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and grass to bring “nature into the heart of the high street”.
Traders were up in arms over this idea saying those 26 parking spaces are vital to the town.
Owner of the Rex cinema, Charles Morris, even warned that if the car park goes, so might the historic picture house.
After listening to people’s concerns, the council went back to the drawing board and came up with the three plans for the car park
There is now also an option that would mean keeping 17 of the parking bays. The other choice does not specify how many spaces would stay, only “nearly half ” of the bays.
All three include new disability parking and drop-off bays on Coronation Street, with a ramped footpath providing access to the high street, and a semi-circular seat wall that forms a spectators’ area for events taking place in the square.
Calderdale Council has been allocated more than £6million from the Future High Streets Fund to transform the centre of Elland.
Other plans include revised road layouts with wider pavements and other measures to support pedestrian and cyclist access, particularly on Southgate.
Improvements to the market square are also proposed, as well as the refurbishment and bringing back into use of The Cartwheel Club, which would become “a multi-functional hub for the community”.
A public consultation was held in Elland last Saturday and the choices are now available to view and comment on online at www.calderdalenextchapter.co.uk/
The council is asking for anyone interested in the proposals to submit their feedback by Sunday, April 2.
Cabinet member for towns, engagement and public health, Coun Sarah Courtney, said: “Significant investment is creating an exciting future for Elland, bringing benefits to the whole community.
“We’ve listened to feedback on our initial plans and have worked on revised options for improvements around the Coronation Street area of the town."