Residents’ anger as ‘dangerous’ hoardings affect road and pavement near Winckley Square

Garden Street road signs obscured by hoardings — Garden Street road signs are obscured by hoardings

Residents near Winckley Square have expressed anger at ‘dangerous’ hoardings affecting the road and pavement in Mount Street and Garden Street.

The hoardings were erected last year ahead of a former gym being demolished to make way for a new apartment block.

Spokesperson for the residents, Steve Harrison, said: “The effect of the hoarding is that pedestrians cannot use the pavements on the north side of Garden Street or the south-east side of Mount Street.

“The narrowed highway has presented problems from the start. When larger vehicles attempt to turn from Mount Street into Garden Street, invariably they mount the only pavement. Signposts have been removed to allow vehicles to negotiate the corner.

“Other road signs, including one-way signs, are behind and obscured by the hoardings. This adds to the dangerous issue of a number of vehicles travelling the wrong way around the one-way system.”

The hoardings narrow the road to less than half its full width

Despite Lancashire County Council saying work is progressing, residents claim no construction has taken place at the site for months.

Steve says he fears there will be more delays before construction completes.

He continued: “The developer has owned this site for 15 years, but even when a start is made the actual construction is expected to take a year.

“Until such time as the developer is ready to commence construction the locals believe the hoarding should be moved to the footprint of the development and the public highway and pavements reinstated.”

A spokesperson for Lancashire County Council said: “The county council gave permission last summer for private works to take place in Garden Street, Preston, with the use of hoardings to protect the public.

“We issued a hoarding licence for the works at this location on 8 July 2021 with a proposed end date of 7 October 2022.

“Works are currently progressing at this location behind the scenes away from public view.

“As the road is a one-way street, we are satisfied that traffic is able to pass the development safely.”

Residents have previously raised concerns about the flood risk at the site.

Developer Mustaq Bhailok has been approached for comment.

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