|
Exciting improvements to Princes Street – Phase 2 construction to begin in October 2012
Proposals to enhance the northern end of Princes Street are finally being realised, and construction works started on 1st October 2012.
Atkins are the contractors who will be carrying out the construction on behalf of Somerset County Council. Key parts of the scheme will include improved paving, widened pavements, altered parking arrangements and new loading bays. For any information on the construction, or to report any problems during construction please contact Richard Needs on 01823 355199.
The works will be carried out in phases with work being undertaken on one section of footway at a time, to ensure that access is maintained during the construction as well as maintaining pedestrian facilities on the opposite footway.
The intended phasing for implementing the scheme is as follows:
- Princes Street up to North Lane on east side 01 October to 12 October
- Princes Street North Lane to Court Ash on east side 10 October to 17 October
- Princes Street Court Ash to Park Road on west side 13 October to 10 November
- Park Road 13 November to 20 November
- Street furniture works 20 November to 24 November
- Carriageway Surfacing and finishings 27 November to 1 December
Throughout the construction work efforts will be taken to keep disruption to an absolute minimum. 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. Confirmation of road closure details will follow but are currently planned for evenings of 27th to 29th November.
**UPDATE**
The majority of kerbing and footway works on the east side of the street are now completed. Works have commenced on the west side from the subway back towards Park Road and works are anticipated to be completed by December 2012. Road Closure dates and road traffic arrangements are as follows:-
Monday 19th through to 21st November - carriageway surfacing works
Monday 26th through to 28th November - pedestrian crossing bottom of Park Road
Park Road and Princes Street will be closed on the above dates during the evenings only from 6pm. The road will be reopened in the day time as normal. While the road closure is in place Hendford will be open to all to allow access to the town centre to be maintained.
Since the completion of enhancement works to the southern end of Princes Street in 2009/10, the focus for the partnership group has been on progressing Phase 2 of the scheme that covers the northern part of the street towards the subway, including Park Road. 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.
The implementation of this scheme builds on the proposals originally set out for Phase Two, which was the outcome of much technical work and public consultation between 2009 and 2011. Some amendments were required in order to satisfy Somerset County Council’s safety audit, including a larger raised table crossing, additional bollards and cycle racks. The existing street lighting system will also be replaced as part of the works.
Funding for these works comes from South Somerset District Council’s Area South Committee, Yeovil Vision Board, Yeovil Town Council and Somerset County Council.
Background
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
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 Reform 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.
|