Business owners on Friargate in Preston react as two years of work to tranform city centre almost complete

There is finally light at the end of the tunnel for business owners on a main city centre road closed two years ago.

Preston's Friargate North and Ringway, were closed in a bid to transform them into a modern space to rival other modern cities.

The project, funded by the Transforming Cities Fund, aims to boost connectivity by bus, rail and active travel such as cycling and walking in Preston City Centre.

The pedestrianised space on Friagate is designed to encourage people moving between the university and the Harris Quarter to visit the area and local businesses by regenerating the area and joining up both sides of the city.

But while the much needed work has been ongoing some businesses have closed and others suffered from a lack of footfall.

However, as the work begins to come to an end, business owners have been expressing their optomism for the future.

Neil Hull has owned the House of Hair for 28 years, he said: “Now we can see what’s going down. Every day their is one brick less to go down.

"We can now see progression when before we couldn’t. We didn’t know where we were, when it was going to reopen and nobody had a clue.

"They said next year to start with, but it should’ve been done by the beginning of this year. If it’s all up and done by Christmas I’ll be a very happy man.”

Bernice Newton runs Town House Coffee and Brew Bar, she is relieved the roadworks will be coming to an end after her business has seen a huge lack in footfall over the past two years.

Bernice said the summer just gone was the worst she’s ever had in terms of lack of custom.

She said: “We are still sat fingers crossed that it will be completed mid October because we’ve missed out what could’ve been an amazing summer trade and maybe we can catch the back end of the Christmas trade.

"I really hope it will bring people back to see how the areas been regenerated, in September we have a lot of students starting University so it would be lovely to see all the students returning.

"The street was fine prior to the redevelopment but I do feel it will be a lot easier to navigate.”

Lancashire County Council say the work will improve the street scene with high quality paving, seating and tree planting creating a pleasant environment for people to sit, relax, shop and enjoy.

The scheme includes:

• A new signal controlled crossing point, public realm improvements and bus interchange stops at the Friargate/Ringway junction and Peace Garden area.
• Vehicle access at the Ringway-Friargate junction will be removed
• Pedestrianisation of Friargate between Ringway and Marsh Lane with access for service and delivery vehicles at restricted times of the day
• Creating a pedestrian and cycle friendly space with high quality paving, trees, and other features such as public seating, space for outdoor markets and alfresco dining opportunities
• Closing part of Corporation Street to general traffic and creating a bus gate to give priority to buses at the junction. allowing buses, Hackney carriages and authorised vehicles through freely whilst discouraging other vehicles
• Improvements to the junction of Corporation Street and Ringway to provide better crossing facilities for pedestrians and cyclists
• New cycle paths along Ringway to help cyclists connect between the University, the railway station, the bus station and beyond as safely as possible
• A new cycle path along Butler Street between Avenham and Miller Parks and the railway station

Regeneration of Friargate North

• Like the southern end of Friargate, removing traffic all day except for a short window for deliveries will create a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists
• Improved street scene with high quality paving, seating and tree planting will create a pleasant environment for people to sit, relax, shop and enjoy
• Regeneration of the street will encourage more people to use it, and help to generate more potential customers for businesses in the area
• Opportunities for businesses to provide outdoor seating for eating and drinking
• New spaces for outdoor markets and live events

Transforming Ringway Junction

• Reconnecting the city either side of Ringway by upgrading the crossing facilities for cyclists and pedestrians
• Opening up and improving the look and feel of this area will make it an attractive place to visit for leisure and shopping
• New secure cycle parking and facilities to encourage more people to come into town on their bikes
• New bus stops at the junction to service this area and make it easier for people to get here by bus
• Encouraging people who are just passing through to choose more suitable routes other than directly through the city centre will enhance the experience for local residents and shoppers

Restrictions and changes to traffic movement

Increased priority is to be given to public transport and new cycle paths are to be constructed on key routes. This will require Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) to change permitted vehicle movements, parking and waiting restrictions in and around the city centre. 

Friargate and Orchard Street

Restriction of access to permit holders during the daytime is to remain. Friargate is proposed to be closed to all traffic (except cycles) at the Peace Garden/Shopmobility car park with no access through to Ringway. Orchard Street one-way is to be reversed to maintain through routes and access to businesses in the area.

Fleet Street and Lune Street

Existing goods loading and limited waiting bays on Fleet Street to be amended locally with hours to be 8am - 8pm. Outside these hours these are to be taxi parking to replace taxi bays to be removed on Friargate. Lune Street access to shopmobility parking is to be made 2-way (currently one-way exit only) with the existing Friargate entrance being closed to traffic.

Friargate (north of Ringway) and surrounding streets

Friargate, between Ringway and Union Street, to be closed to all traffic, except cycles. Between Union Street and Marsh Lane, Friargate vehicles will be prohibited, except cycles, outside of limited servicing hours (6am-10am) with traffic running one-way (northbound) from Union Street to Marsh Lane.

One-way, restricted hours opening will be implemented on the adjoining Union Street and the ends of Hill Street and Heatley Street. Waiting and loading will be prohibited except in marked loading bays to service local businesses.

North of its junction with Marsh Lane, Friargate will continue one-way (open 24/7) in a northbound direction to its junction with Great Shaw Street/Market Street West and 2-way from thereon. Existing limited waiting and loading bays will be retained with night-time use amended to taxi parking to replace bays displaced from the southern section.

Marsh Lane will remain one-way but reversed in direction to run west-to-east from Corporation Street to Friargate, maintaining access to properties and car parking during prohibited hours on Friargate and integrating with changes to Corporation Street.

Waiting and loading prohibitions will be introduced on Hope Street, Edward Street, Marsh Lane, Heatley Street and Hill Street on the approaches to their junctions with Friargate to prevent businesses parking and servicing their shops from these locations and obstructing the carriageway outside of the 6am-10am servicing hours.

Corporation Street and surrounding area

Changes to Friargate will require the displacement of bus stops and routes to the parallel Corporation Street. To prioritise bus services, and encourage the use of public transport, a bus gate (bus only street) is proposed between Heatley Street and Marsh Lane in both directions. This will restrict its use over this length to buses, cycles and taxis.

To prevent general traffic using alternative routes (rat-running) on local roads which don't have the capacity or character for significant increases in traffic a number of one-way routes are proposed. These have been planned to ensure local residents and businesses retain accessibility, without creating by-passes to the bus gate for north-south traffic to and from the city centre.

These include:

• Marsh Lane (west to east)
• Bowran Street and Mount Pleasant (north to south)
• Heatley Street (except cycles) from Ladywell Street to Chandler Street

Maudland Bank, Wellfield Road and Ashton Street

Similar to the proposed TROs on roads surrounding Corporation Street, a one-way section from south to north is proposed on Maudland Bank, from Maudland Road to Pedder Street to discourage rat-running on local streets.

Ashton Street and Wellfield Road are a north-south route which will remain open in both directions, approximately ½ km west of Corporation Street.

It is expected that, without intervention, traffic on this route will increase. It is proposed to install speed cushions at approximately to calm traffic through this area.