Fylde Council’s ambitious £3.13 million town centre regeneration project is making excellent progress, with the first phase of improvements advancing ahead of schedule. The Council continues to demonstrate its continued commitment to transforming St Annes into a more vibrant and dynamic town centre.
The initial phase of construction work, carried out by George Cox & Sons, has been completed a week ahead of schedule, providing local businesses with additional construction-free time during the crucial Christmas period. Key achievements include the widening of the carriageway to accommodate new bus stops and the sustainable reuse of materials from the square in pavement surfacing works.
The project has become a catalyst for local employment, with three young apprentices gaining valuable experience on site. Owen (age 20) and Myles (age 20) are all currently completing their NVQ Level 2 qualifications while working as groundworkers. Additionally, Keegan (age 20) from recently completed his apprenticeship and continues to contribute to the project.
Cllr Buckley, Leader of the Council said: “We’re pleased with the speed of progress made so far, and without major disruption to the road network or to the entrances to our shops and businesses. Completing the first phase ahead of schedule brings the footpaths back into use for the last couple of weeks of Christmas shopping. There is a patch of temporary concreting for safety reasons up near the zebra crossing which will be finished when work resumes in January 2025 using materials freed up from the second phase of the square’s development to ensure a consistent and high-quality finish throughout the area.”
Looking ahead to 2025, the main works elements of the project will commence in January with five phases in total. Alongside these works will feature the installation of new bus shelters and a space for buses opposite to pull in to keep traffic flowing, as well as a complete resurfacing of the road once completed. The entire project is on track for the end of June 2025.
To keep residents and businesses informed about the ongoing works, information boards have been installed in the square, and a dedicated WhatsApp channel has been established for live updates. The channel can be accessed by searching for ‘St. Annes High Street Improvements’. For more detailed information about the construction phases and regular updates, residents are encouraged to visit www.investinfylde.co.uk/st-annes-town-centre-improvements.
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