£400,000 facelift set for next month

A £400,000 facelift for Warrington’s run-down Lower Bridge Street looks set to go ahead as early as next month..
Work would start late in the month and the scheme should be substantially completed in time for the Christmas shopping period.
The work will involve environmental improvements to the carriageway and footpaths similar to recent work carried out in the Palmyra Cultural Quarter.
Enhanced street lighting and landscaping will also form an important part of the scheme, as well as widened footpaths. The junction area with Friars Gate and Academy Way will be resurfaced and the temporary road barrier on Academy Way will be replaced.
A report to be presented to the borough council’s executive board by Cllr Linda Dirir, lead member for highways, transportation and operation, states: ”It is envisaged that the proposed works will not only support existing retail and other businesses but importantly encourage new ones – for example use of the widened footpaths for pavement cafes.
“The scheme therefore links closely and helps deliver a key council pledge of supporting the local economy.”
Existing traffic management arrangements in Lower Bridge Street will be maintained.
The council and development partners Muse Developments are progressing a multi-million £ wider master plan for the Bridge Street area, due to start next summer, which will include a range of leisure facilities including a new multi-screen cinema.
Council chiefs say the improvements will complement the wider master plan.
An important part of the scheme is to improve accessibility to the area and it will also include the provision of benches at key locations.
Businesses have been consulted and, while the scheme was generally well received, concerns were expressed about the general economics and future investment for the regeneration of the area as a whole.
Numerous requests were received for changes to existing traffic management systems in Bridge Street and while these cannot be dealt with at present, because of the tight timescales, this would be looked as part of the overall master plan for the area.
Seven contractors have been invited to bid for the work.
Pictured: Lower Bridge Street.