A SCHEME to pedestrianise part of Stalybridge town centre to create a heritage walk will finally get underway.
Much discussion has revolved around how that will look, when it will be put in place and even whether it will happen at all.
But in a letter to businesses and councillors, Tameside Council has confirmed work on the project, which may bring up to £2.5 million of investment and custom into the town centre, will happen.
And the first part converted will be the area of Market Street between the bus station and the Trinity Street junction.
In the letter, Caroline Lindsay – High Street Heritage Action Zone Officer for Stalybridge – says: “The work on the High Street Heritage Action Zone in Stalybridge is progressing.
“Over the last few months I have been working with Historic England and our Tameside MBC Engineers on the Heritage Walk part of the scheme.
“The programme design for the Stalybridge High Street HAZ was based on the outcomes from the Town Centre Challenge consultation.
“The Heritage Walk project is designed to establish an equal access route along Market Street.
“This will provide better connections and encourage visitors to all parts of the town centre.”
Further details were provided on what the work will entail, with servicing and loading for properties able to continue.
Mrs Lindsay also confirmed the authority will also work with businesses to tackle the problem of bins being left on the street.
On Wednesday, January 5, several residents complained about full bins and dozens of bags being left on the Market Street area.
However, later that day all council facilities were emptied and sacks removed.
The letter adds: “We have worked to design a scheme that provides wider pavements, safer walking routes, reduced vehicle speeds and improved accessibility.
“There will be space for benches, cycle racks and outdoor tables and chairs along with planters and areas for outdoor art to be included.
“The scheme does include a reduction in the number of parking bays along Market Street to accommodate the increased pavement width.
“The servicing and loading for properties has been considered and will be able to continue.
“We will also continue to work with existing businesses to resolve the situation with bins on the highway.”
Stalybridge would be one of 68 high streets to benefit from a share of a £95 million fund over a four-year programme run in conjunction with Historic England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
The overall work will include a heritage walk from the railway station to a newly-created heritage quarter and improvements to the street scenery, while also improving heritage and cultural assets in the town centre including looking at alternative use options for the
Civic Hall.
Before anything ,do you think we can have a public toilets in Stalybtidge.
The only public toilets we have at the moment are Tesco, and Witherspoons.
How embarrassing when nature calls one has to do it behind a wall.
Before we can encourage people into the town centre we need to offer them something to see! The great small shops in the centre of the town are too sparsely located to make it worthwhile for people to come. We need more independent retailers to bring shoppers in.
Motorists need to be able to park for free and this scheme takes away even more of the spaces available. Stockport centre allows free parking for four hours on Saturdays, Ashton town centre has free parking for an hour. Stalybridge effectively has two bus stations and a market hall which isn’t used. Encourage people to the lockside and into the centre by offering something different regularly.