Months of roadworks in Preston city centre are to take place to create the latest stage of the shared space scheme.

Lancashire County Council has announced the new road layout used in Fishergate and the top end of Church Street is now being extended.

Advertisements

Lancaster Road, Jackson Street, Lord Street and part of Tithebarn Street are all to see new pavements, lighting, benches and a new road surface.

However, the county council says it is making amendments to the design used for Fishergate – as it has received much criticism from disabled groups.

Kerb heights are to be higher, to help people distinguish between the road and the pavement, and materials being used for the road surface will have a greater contrast to the pavement.

Work is beginning on the new road layout in Lord Street from Monday (8 January) and will take until the summer of 2019 to complete the whole scheme.

Read more: UCLan’s Adelphi Square scheme set for approval

Cabinet member for highways and transport county councillor Keith Iddon said: “It’s important to provide a welcoming city centre that appeals to businesses and shoppers.

“These latest improvements will bring a similar feel to work done elsewhere in the city centre, which we know have helped to attract new retailers and shoppers.

“Our highways team planned this phase by taking on board comments and feedback on previous improvements and we’ve made some changes. We hope that this will help to improve the experience for everyone who visits this part of the city centre.”

The county council says it is to undertake the work in stages to try and limit the disruption to businesses in the area.

The first stage will see a temporary road layout put in place with Lord Street, at the side of the Guild Hall, closed to vehicles and Tithebarn Street will close from Crooked Lane.

A one-way restriction on Lancaster Road will be temporarily reserved during the work and vehicles will be able to travel from Old Vicarage towards the Guild Hall.

A bus and taxi-only section in front of the Guild Hall will also be temporarily removed during this work with all drivers able to travel towards Church Street.

Another change from the Fishergate scheme is the introduction of specific taxi and delivery bays on the road surface, rather than being on the pavement.

Stone flags outside the Town Hall and the Harris will be maintained.

However, flags outside the Miller Arcade are being taken up and reused to repair damaged ones outside the other two buildings.

Read more: Here’s how many drivers have been caught by the Fishergate bus lane

Cabinet member for planning and regulation at Preston City Council councillor Peter Moss said: “The next phase of improvement works are very welcome to complete the overall look of the main thoroughfares in Preston.

“An attractive city centre is essential to bring in visitors and future investment, and will be yet one more successful element of the Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal.”

Advertisements

Work on the Fishergate scheme, which was funded by European Union money, began in 2013 and funding for this section of roadworks is coming from the Growth Deal and Lancashire County Council’s contribution to the City Deal – a £430million investment in infrastructure and housing across Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire.

Bus stops outside the Town Hall and at the top of the market will be closed from Monday due to the roadworks.

What do you think of the latest stage of the roadworks in Preston city centre? Let us know in the comments below