24 November 2008, 08/268
The future’s bright for
Burscough
To celebrate Burscough’s exciting multi-million pound
transformation, dignitaries were invited on a celebration tour to
see the difference!
Burscough has been turned into an improved place for shopping
and leisure thanks to this major regeneration scheme using funding
provided by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), via
the West Lancashire Strategic Partnership’s Investing in Business
Regeneration Programme and the significant investment by Tesco
plc.
The scheme is so unique and eye-catching that it has scooped a
national prize for its exciting design at the Landscape Institute
Awards 2008 in London last week. The award applauded the project
for its work around the series of new, small interlinked squares
and pedestrian routes, animated with paving, artwork, lighting
signage and a village clock.
To mark the completion of the works and to celebrate the fact that
the project has won another accolade, invited guests were taken on
a tour of the sites on today (24 November).
Along the way they saw improvements such as:
- Reconstruction of the footpaths through
Burscough, with new paving and surfacing. Trees have also been
planted, and new street furniture installed
- A new public square has been created
- The canal and railway bridge parapets have
been cleaned and new heritage-style lighting columns have been
installed
- Disabled access ramps have been installed to
the post office and pharmacy
- The beautiful Grade II listed St John the
Baptist Church has been illuminated with a lighting scheme that
changes with the religious calendar
- Unique public art has been installed throughout the
centre to emphasise Burscough’s distinct history and
traditions.
Cllr Adrian Owens, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and
Estates, said:"Burscough is buzzing thanks to the fantastic
regeneration improvement works that have transformed the town
centre. It’s a real pleasure to walk around the area and shop
because it now has such character. We are so proud of the scheme -
especially as it has won two awards - so we wanted to showcase it
to our visitors. Our invited guests who came along on the tour were
impressed by the concepts and history behind the designs and
features and were extremely complimentary of what they saw. The
project has injected life into Burscough and has strengthened the
local economy by implementing a series of environmental and visual
improvements to the town centre. It has given Burscough back its
sense of identity, making residents proud of their town and
creating a place where people want to shop and spend their leisure
time."
Peter White, Executive Director, Economic Development, at the
NWDA, said:"This redevelopment has been a hugely important scheme
for Burscough’s future which has been expertly and sensitively
done. I am pleased to see that investment from the NWDA has helped
to make such a difference in Burscough, not only to its façade and
infrastructure, but also to the local economy."
The regeneration scheme, which was designed by BCA Landscape,
ties directly into the building of the new Tesco store and the
rail/bus interchange, which helps to bring people into the town
centre.
To date 135 jobs have been created as part of the scheme, which
has also recently been awarded a commendation from the North West
Royal Town Planning Institute as a model of best practice.
Related information