An artists impression of how Fishergate could look in the future

A multi-million scheme to completely change the layout of one of Preston’s major shopping routes looks set to be given the nod.

The proposals for a £3.4m revamp of Fishergate have been recommended for approval by Lancashire County Council.

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Officers have written to the county council leader, planning chief and transport chief to request they back the proposals after £1.6m of European funding was secured towards the project.

The proposals for Fishergate will see traffic, apart from buses, barred from using it and a “shared space” for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport created.

Fishergate Central was the project is known seeks to correct the “underwhelming arrival entry” for anyone arriving into the city via the train station and Fishergate Hill.

New paving will be laid, footways will be widened and new bus shelters will be fitted among other improvements.

Work on the Fishergate area will happen in three phases. Consultation sessions for local businesses and residents will begin this month provided the proposals are approved and be completed by mid-March.

From Spring to the end of summer 2013 work will start on the Ringway Junction where it joins Corporation Street. From late summer to winter 2013 work on the section of Fishergate from Lune Street to Mount Street will be completed.

A final phase lasting through the winter and into summer 2014 will see the section between Mount Street and Pitt Street revamped.

Officers in their report already indicate the works will be stopped over the Christmas period to ensuring a key shopping period will not be interrupted.

The total cost of the scheme is expected to be £3.43 million, with £1.38m coming from European funding, £1.60m from the county council’s economic development capital programme and £453,000 from the county council’s environment department.

The report states: “Preston City Centre has lacked investment of a significant scale over a number of years.

“The City Centre has not seen the same level of private sector investment and development as has been experienced by comparable cities.”

The Fishergate Central scheme is set to be formally approved by the county council on Tuesday 12 February.

You can view the full proposals on the county council website.

Let us know your views on the proposals for Fishergate in the comments below, do you think it should be completely pedestrianised? Is it a good move? Will it cause too much disruption?