[Irish Blood English Heart]

Can't think of anywhere to put stuff about Lancashire so here is as good as any I suppose. I have some development news about Rawtenstall so shall post here in a wee bit, if anyone has anything at all then post it here!

 

[Irish Blood English Heart]

New town centre for Rawtenstall......

Well it seems that Rawtenstall bus garage and station is going to redeveloped by Lidl into a new bus station and supermarket, shame its a supermarket turning its back on the river rather then a riverside development on the Irwell which Im sure would be more welcome then a 4th town supermarket (after a giant Asda and two tescos), however it's been approved. The plans are here:

Controversial store plan gets the go-ahead
By Helen Korn
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BUILDING PLANS: The bus shelters, in Bacup Road, will remain
A NEW supermarket will be built in Rawtenstall despite more than 1,000 people signing a petition against the development.

The bus repair garage, Bacup Road, will be demolished to make way for a new Lidl store and car parking, but the bus stands will be retained.

Under a legal agreement, as part of the planning application by the German supermarket giant, the council will be given £70,000 for transport initiatives, money towards CCTV cameras and a portion of land will be transferred to Lancashire County Council for the provision of a new bus interchange.

But Rawtenstall's Chamber of Commerce had collected a petition with 1,014 signatures and Rossendale Council also received many letters of objection, as well as letters in support.

Tony Winder, of the Cham-ber of Commerce, spoke against the application at a meeting of Rossendale planning committee. He said: "This is the wrong location for this building. The design is poor and the building will look tatty and become a blight on the landscape."

There were many letters in support of the scheme, but also others objecting on the grounds of noise pollution, increased traffic, visual impact and decreases in the value of homes.

http://www.rossendale.gov.uk/downloads/2007-665_Lidl.pdf

Apparentl Asda are recladding their new huge store in stone to make it fit in better.

Bigger news though is the redevelopment of the town centre to replace the current decrepit shopping precinct with a new development

Old Centre here:

Rawtenstall's Valley Centre redevelopment plans have been given the go ahead by Rossendale Council, following last nights Special Development Control Meeting.

The £30m development involves demolishing the exisiting Valley Centre, to make way for 16 new shops, 6 food and drink outlets and 115 apartments. Parking for over 300 cars will also be provided.

A new pedestrianised 'Cafe Quarter' is also planned for in front of the Police Station on Lord Street.

Councillor Tony Swain said: "I believe we now have an organisation behind this scheme that will deliver on their promises and bring the scheme through.
"The previous owners' main achievement in developing our town centre was to let the place go to rack and ruin. We have no longer got a shopping centre but a semi-derelict no-go area.

The new Valley Centre could be ready as early as Spring 2010, but this is subject to approval from the Secretary of State.

Here is the pics of the development: