Lancaster is in the market for change! City centre improvements in 2014
Lancaster Square Routes OVER £1 Million of investment is set to pave the way towards reviving the heart of Lancaster city centre with improvement works beginning in early March 2014.
Complementary to the works will be new experimental traffic regulations to better manage traffic within the pedestrian zone, benefiting all pedestrians and traders. This Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) will:
As part of the Lancaster Square Routes project, Lancaster City Council and Lancashire County Council are working with partners to reinvigorate Market Square and surrounding streets to strengthen the city centre’s position as a quality destination for both visitors, residents and traders.
cannot enter the zone to 10am - 5pm to fit with the main shopping hours.
Change the period when goods vehicles
Remove the permit system by which some drivers can access the zone by vehicle for either loading or parking.
Introduce a new dispensation system by
which the zone can be accessed for essential purposes by works vehicles and market traders (time limited).
Works commencing in early March 2014 will see over £1 million of investment, including:
New street surfaces, seating and lighting for the length of Cheapside, Horseshoe Corner, Penny Street and also new surfacing for the length of Market Street
For Market Square, new surfaces, seating and a new centrepiece
Improved signs and way finding information to improve the experiences of residents and visitors
To compensate for the reduction in spaces for disabled drivers, four additional spaces have been created on the city council managed St Nicholas Arcades car park. In addition, disabled drivers can use any council car park for free and additional spaces are also being looked at for the Moor Mills 1 car park (off Nelson Street). These improvements should bring many benefits and help make the city centre a much more attractive place to spend time in, to work in, to trade in and to invest in.
These works are being led by the city council in close partnership with the county council and are co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund Market Square has always been at the centre of Lancaster’s (ERDF) Programme 2007activities and the focal point for civic and ceremonial activites and 2013 and both councils. trade. Unfortunately over recent years it has become tired and uninviting and does not portray the image that you would expect During the works the from such an important historic city. Charter Market will continue but in alternative locations This investment will both improve the appearance of the city and encourage more activity into the city centre during the day and as necessary for the works through into the evening. In turn this will boost the local economy, to proceed. Once the works increase income and profit for local business and lead to more jobs are completed the city for local people. council will introduce a new Councillor Janice Hanson, Lancaster City Council’s Cabinet member better long term layout for with responsibility for Economic Regeneration and Planning the Charter Market.
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Lancaste
phase 1 completed
PHASE 2 Commencing March 2014
PHASE 3 Details to be agreed
The pedestrian zone / traffic restricted area covers Market Street, Sir Simon’s Arcade, New Street, the middle section of Church Street, Cheapside and Penny Street up to the junction with George Street.
New high quality paving and seating in Market Square and Horseshoe Corner
Market Square
New LED Street Lighting
New Surfacing and seating
CHEAPSIDE HORSESHOE CORNER
New Centrepiece
SIR SIMON’S ARCADE New Surfacing
Wayfinding Interpretation Points
Return of the Horseshoe FFRANCES PASSAGE
New Surfacing New seating
New LED Street Lighting
GAGE STREET
MARY STREET
er Castle
KEY
Dalton Sq
The ETRO will commence on 3 February 2014 and will initially be in place for 18 months and will be monitored throughout this period to examine its effectiveness. reating places that people want to visit and experimental order will allow us “ Cspend “ Ttohemonitor time and money in is vital to our key how the changes to traffic urban centres and to the wider economic wellbeing of the county.
management work in practice and make adjustments if necessary to improve the way they work.
This vital investment will help to revive the centre of Lancaster and ensure it offers a high quality experience which continues to appeal to local shoppers and visitors alike.
We’ll work closely with the city council, businesses and local people throughout to achieve the best result for Lancaster.
Many businesses and people use the area in different ways which sometimes places competing demands on the way the area is used by pedestrians and vehicle traffic.
Councillor John Fillis, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, Lancashire County Council
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Life in Market Square 1193
Foundation Charter granted by King Richard I gave the settlement of Lancaster ‘borough’ status. The charter confirmed the right to hold a street market.
Late 18th century
Between 1781-83 a new Town Hall was built for £2,054 13s 7d in Market Square. The building is now known as the Old Town Hall, having been replaced in 1909 by a new and larger town hall in Dalton Square. In the foreground, the market cross can be seen.
At the turn of the 20th century
Market Square was the focus of huge numbers of people for the sending off and the return of various companies of the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment from South Africa.
In the early 20th century
Lancaster’s Police and Fire Stations were located in the corner of Market Square where the Library is now situated.
1950s
Market Square provided one of the main bus stops in the city, linking to stops for all city destinations and with underground toilets.
1970s
Lancaster city centre became one of the first pedestrianised centres in the country.
1993
HRH The Prince of Wales unveiled the former fountain, which was removed in late 2011.
2014
Works to re-establish Market Square as the heart of the city centre take place, with a new centrepiece as the focal point and an improved layout for the Charter Market.
For more information on Lancaster Square Routes visit: www.lancaster.gov.uk/squareroutes email: squareroutes@lancaster.gov.uk
For more information on parking facilities in the city centre, including the changes being brought in through the ETRO, visit: www.lancaster.gov.uk/lancasterparking email: parking@lancaster.gov.uk phone: 01524 582648
Lancaster Square Routes delivered with the support of Front cover illustration for guidance only.