A MAJOR improvement scheme for Chester’s Brook Street area is due to get under way in January.Cheshire West and Chester CouncilŠwill start public realm improvement works planned for Brook Street, early next year.
The project will bring long term benefits to the area, improving its both appearance and the connection between the station and the city centre.
It will also complement earlier works in the areaŠincluding; the replacement of Hoole Way subway with a surface level crossing; enhanced lighting and CCTV coverage; improvements to shop fronts; reduced parking charges and improvements to St Anne’s car park.
Phase 1 works include widening of the pavement on the shop side at the bottom of Brook Street: upgrading street furniture, laying York stone in the alleyways, and making a new buff coloured road surface with 3 areas of in-prints.
Work will start on January 25 and be completed in April. The Heritage Lottery Fund, the Northwest Development Agency and the local Council are funding the project.
Further improvements to Brook Street are in a study phase.
The council has pledged to:
Work closely with contractors to make sure disruption is kept to a minimum and keeping traders fully informed at all times;
Give local people and traders a contact number to raise any day to day issues that may concern them;
Provide free use of one free car parking space in St. Anne’s Car park for all traders affected by the works during the contract period.
Traders and residents in Brook Street have been informed by their Ward Councillors and Chester Renaissance.
Councillor Stuart Parker, chairman of the Regeneration Policy Development Board and vice-chairman of Chester Renaissance, said: “This scheme to improve the public realm in Brook Street has been developed over many years.
“We have worked a long time to get to this stage, listening to the traders and taking into consideration what has been said during consultation. I am convinced that this scheme will contribute greatly to the regeneration of Brook Street. “
Added Cllr Parker: “The Council did not want to lose the unique opportunity that external funding has offered to actually deliver Phase 1 for the benefit of as many people as possible.
“Whilst there are some concerns about the project, we have asked the contractor to deliver the street works in phases and maintain pedestrian access at all times in order to allow businesses to remain open.”
