Introduction
** UPDATE on Phase 2 - see below**
The Princes Street Enhancement Scheme is a project set up to continue a series of incremental improvements to the town centre, which are part of a much larger overall vision for town centre regeneration in Yeovil.
A project team was established for the ‘Princes Street Enhancement Scheme’ in 2006 with representation from District, Town and County Councils, Yeovil Vision and Yeovil Town Centre Partnership. Yeovil Hospital and Yeovil College.
The project partners acknowledge that Princes Street is an important shopping street situated within Yeovil town centre’s historical core and sits within a conservation area. The street is a key pedestrian gateway into the town centre and is well used by many, including school and college students, hospital staff & local residents.
The key objectives of the enhancement scheme are
- Improve pedestrian links between the town centre, college & hospital
- Reduce vehicle speeds entering Princes Street from Park Road
- Enhance the character of Princes Street
- Shift the emphasis of the street from motorists to pedestrian
- Improve the subways
- Integrate public art
Phase Two
Phase two seeks to enhance the Northern End of Princes Street towards the subway area including Park Road. The improvements will include widening of pavements, introduction of loading bays, repaving, designated pedestrian crossing points, lighting improvements and general de-clutter of the street. In addition, quality bespoke street furniture will be introduced along Park Road and Princes Street in a style consistent with the furniture installed in phase one. Further details on the design are available to view
Phase 2 Detailed Design
The aspiration is to reconnect the subway end of Princes Street with the southern end of the street, to create attractive pedestrian access between the town centre, the college and the hospital and to enhance the character of the street. It is hoped that this will also enhance the profitability and appeal of the businesses in the area.
Construction is anticipated to commence in January and the aim is to complete the works by March 2012. Funding has been secured from South Somerset District Council, Yeovil Town Council, Somerset County Council and Yeovil Vision Board.
Extensive consultation has taken place over recent years regarding the street as a whole, and in May and June 2010 specifically regarding Phase Two, people were invited to consider and comment on design options being worked up. The culmination of months and years of consulting and developing designs saw a final design approved by Yeovil Vision in the summer of 2011.
Somerset County Highways will be carrying out the construction in partnership with South Somerset District Council. The works will be undertaken in phases with work being undertaken on one section of footway at a time, ensuring that access is maintained to premises during the construction as well as maintaining pedestrian facilities on the opposite footway. In order to allow the build of a pedestrian crossing at the bottom of Park Road, and to enable a new carriageway surface to be laid it will be necessary to introduce a short-term road closure. Further information on construction timetables, road closure dates and arrangements will be communicated once the final detail is known. Throughout the work efforts will be taken to keep disruption to an absolute minimum.
Councillor Tony Fife, Chairman of SSDC Area South Committee said, “I am delighted to see Princes Street get the upgrading it deserves. Not only will it mean safer and welcoming access for pedestrians to the town centre, but also better footfall should mean increased trade for shops and services in this historic part of the town centre.”
Phase One
The first phase of improvements to Princes Street to improve the quality of the Town Centre environment for shoppers and other users has now been completed.
The selected improvements came about after an extensive consultation with local businesses and the community. The improvement works have included repaving the Eastern side of Princes street and widening a part of the footpath. The introduction of modern, wall mounted street lighting has helped to illuminate the area. Existing street lighting columns have been removed to help de-clutter the street.
The improvement works also included a new pedestrian crossing at the junction of Princes Street and Church Street, a dropped-kerb crossing point half-way up Church Street, and new street furniture including a Yeovil in Bloom structure, cycle racks and new litter bins.
Yeovil in Bloom at the United Reformed Church
Works to create a new landscaping scheme and install two Yeovil in Bloom structures at the entrance of the United Reformed Church were completed in October 2009. Local artist, Tim Fortune, was commissioned to produce the seating and the planters which complement the seating in Middle Street.
We welcome feedback about any of our projects if you would like to leave a comment please email us at areasouth@southsomerset.gov.uk.
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