PLANNING bosses have thrown out a controversial plan involving sealing off a major entrance to Warrington’s multi-million £ Golden Square shopping centre.
Members of the borough council’s planning sub-committee rejected the scheme after hearing of strong opposition from other town centre traders.
They claimed Golden Square was already siphoning off trade from other parts of the town centre and the loss of a major pedestrian link between the centre and Sankey Street would exacerbate the problem.
The application was by Warrington Retail Partnership – operators of Golden Square – and involved amalgamating three shop units and expanding them across the pedestrian access to the shopping malls near Marks and Spencer.
Planning officers opposed the scheme on the grounds it would significantly reduce and disrupt pedestrian flows between Sankey Street and the shopping centre.
There were also four objections to the scheme from town centre businesses.
Members of the committed visited the site before reaching their decision.
Objectors claimed connectivity between the shopping centre and the rest of the town had always been a guiding principle of town centre development and the proposal went against the whole spirit of that ethos.
There was no objection to the amalgamation of the shop units, nor changes to their elevations.
But the proposed absorption of the walkway into an enlarged store would have a negative impact on pedestrian flows and, as a result, the quality and attractiveness of that part of the town centre, they argued.
An officers’ report considered by the committee stated: “The permanent closure of the passageway would significantly reduce permeability and disrupt pedestrian connectivity between Golden Square and Sankey Street – and vice versa – causing inconvenience for pedestrians and harming the quality and vitality of this important part of the town centre – Sankey Street between Market Gate and Bold Street.”
