Consultation starts on enhancement proposals
From next week (
w/c
17
December 2007), local residents, businesses and visitors to
Carlisle’s city centre will be asked to give their views on
proposals to enhance the city’s historic core.
As part of an ambitious Carlisle
Renaissance plan, proposals are in place to enhance the city’s
most historic area, including Castle Street, Finkle Street, Market
Street, Annetwell Street, Paternoster Row, Market Street and West
Walls.
The scheme proposes the use of high quality materials and
includes plans to extend the pedestrianised area of the city centre
to include part of Castle Street. A 'Restricted Zone' is also
suggested for other parts of the historic core that would limit the
amount of unnecessary traffic entering the area. The plans aim to
boost the economic and tourism aspects of the city centre.
Public consultation drop-in sessions
Sessions will be held at the Old Town Hall’s Tourist
Information Centre on the following dates and times:
- Tuesday, 18 December between 2pm and 5pm;
- Wednesday, 19 December between 2pm and 5pm;
- Wednesday, 9 January between 2pm and 5pm;
- Thursday, 10 January between 2pm and 5pm;
- Friday, 11 January between 2pm and 5pm; and
- Saturday, 12 January between 1pm and 3pm.
Carlisle City Cllr Ray Bloxham, Portfolio holder for Environment
& Infrastructure said:
This is the first phase of future enhancement
works planned for the city’s historic core. The high quality finish
proposed for this scheme is to be reflected in other schemes. We
want to work with local residents, businesses to ensure this
scheme, wherever possible, to reflect the needs of those who live,
work and visit the city centre.
The public consultation will be seeking views on the
following:
Traffic Management
- A one-way system with traffic entering by Market Street and
leaving by West Walls.
- The historic core would become a "restricted zone" for traffic
with parking available only for residents, special-permit and
disabled-badge holders and vehicles loading or unloading. Parking
would only be allowed in the marked bays so allowing the removal of
many road markings, signs and street clutter.
- Market Street would remain two-way, as would the southern end
of West Walls to allow access to the Market Hall and Marks &
Spencers’ car park, the Diocesan car park and the Tithe Barn.
- All other streets would be one-way, with vehicles entering from
Market Street and leaving via West Walls.
Pedestrianisation
- To extend the existing pedestrianised area to include Castle
Street, to the junction with Paternoster Row, and Fisher Street to
the junction with Market Street (including St Mary’s Gate).
- This is to draw visitors from the main city centre retail area,
towards the Cathedral, Castle Street and the historic core beyond,
making the whole area more inviting to pedestrians.
- Delivery vehicles would still be allowed into this new
pedestrianised area, but only between 7am and 10.30am and between
4.30pm and 7pm. They would leave Castle Street via St Mary’s Gate,
Fisher Street and Market Street.
- This part of Castle Street would be closed by using automatic
bollards or gates, opening at the appropriate time to allow access
for businesses to load and unload in the area. At all other times
the bollards or gates will only allow access to emergency and
utility vehicles in addition to special permit holders.
- The proposed pedestrianised area will be repaved using natural
materials, with a widened footway flagged with Lazonby sandstone,
granite setts on roads and other natural materials in shared use
areas.
Other Enhancements
- Improvements will be made to other roads and footways in the
area involving work on Dean Tates Lane, Abbey Street/ Annetwell
Street junction and Heads Lane/West Walls. The aim is to enhance
pedestrian routes into the area.
- The enhancements will involve the use of natural materials,
footways flagged with Lazonby sandstone and granite setts for
roads.
- Carlisle City Council in partnership with Cumbria County
Council is funding the £840,000 scheme.
- Comment sheets can be returned using a freepost envelope or
using the ballot boxes at the Old Town Hall, Civic Centre, Tullie
House or Carlisle Library by Thursday, 31 January 2008.
For further information telephone Carlisle City Council on 01228
817200 or visit www.carlisle.gov.uk
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