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Despite Covid-19, Kirklees Council are still pressing ahead with investments and improvements to Dewsbury Town Centre.
Dewsbury Arcade building purchased
The completion of the deal is a major step in delivering on the ‘Dewsbury Blueprint’ vision which launched in February.
Options are now being explored to reopen the Arcade – which connects Market Place to Corporation Street.
There will be a focus on bringing smaller independent and local businesses to the building with an eclectic mix of retail, leisure and community facilities. Details and proposals are being drawn up over the next 12 months with an aim to reopen the Arcade in 2022.
Initial work to improve the appearance of the building in the meantime will take place over the next few months.
New community safety team are in place
Following approval of the additional funding, which was initially revealed at the launch of the Dewsbury Blueprint, an agreement has been made with the police to fund an additional two police officers. The police will work across a three team pattern to give coverage 7 days a week, from 8am until the late evening. This is being complemented by two additional council enforcement officers.
£210k investment in access improvements to train station approved
A £210k scheme has been consulted on to make it easier for people to travel on foot and by bike to Dewsbury Rail Station via the Eightlands Road access point.
Wider pavements with improved surfacing, better crossings and street lighting, 20mph zone and a new cycle route are among the proposals.
You can find information on the proposals and any updates here.
New Town Centre parks going ahead
Planning permission is being sought this summer for the exciting new ‘pocket park’ in Dewsbury Town Centre at 23 Northgate – the old Co-op Funeral Parlour.
The site and investment already has Cabinet approval and legal planning permission is now being sought, which would allow works to begin.
The new park is one of three new green spaces being planned for the town centre, with another ‘pocket park’ planned for behind the market and a larger Town Centre Park on Longcauseway, with the Council landscaping team currently working on these plans.
Pioneer House work continues
Following the main contractor going into administration earlier this year, the Council appointed a subcontractor to ensure the work did not grind to a halt. Work quickly re-started with the subcontractors, but Covid-19 lockdown resulted in the work slowing. However, work continued and is ongoing.
The Council will be improving the footways adjacent to Pioneer House, on Branch Road and the ring-road side in August/September.
Free car parking until September
Kirklees Council have also announced that town centre car parking will be free in Dewsbury and Huddersfield until September.
New LED streetlights
Street lights across the town centre are being replaced with new, modern, more energy efficient LED lights. Coronavirus has effected the programmed, but it is planned for work to go ahead in the Autumn.
Field House improvements
Planning permission has been granted for the development of Field House into apartments, and a café and restaurant directly opposite the station. The developer is working with the Dewsbury Heritage Action Zone team to progress further design and survey work.
Footway repairs
Key areas for repair work going ahead include Longcauseway, Northgate, Westgate and Crackenedge Lane car park.These are scheduled to start in June.
Where paving repairs aren’t required, it is being proposed that all of the main paved areas are jet-washed in the town centre over the summer.
New multi-million pound bus station gets go-ahead
West Yorkshire Combined Authority has given the go-ahead to a new bus station which will benefit residents and businesses in Dewsbury’s surrounding communities, providing better access to an affordable, cleaner and attractive transport network – and give a facelift to the Westgate area of Dewsbury town centre.
This links into a wider West Yorkshire programme of transport improvements with over £300m being invested to improve sustainable travel across the region, and invest in our town centres.
Sustainable travel improvements
The Council is progressing plans to trial sustainable travel improvements, which will maximise the potential level of investment for Dewsbury out of the new funding which was announced very recently by Government for active travel. The Council are also developing plans for further environmental, public realm and cultural interventions for the town centre, this summer.
Dewsbury Blueprint consultation
The Blueprint consultation was successfully completed – before lockdown began – on Sunday 14 March. 430 people visited the shop in Market Place and together with the online survey 74 questionnaires were returned. The results are being collated and should be available in the summer.
Dewsbury East’s ‘independent’ councillor, Aleks Lukic, voted against the Kirklees Labour Budget of investment. After a decade of austerity undermining our services, he voted with the Conservative group to spend less on council services and reduce the Kirklees budget.
Dewsbury East Labour councillors Cathy Scott and Eric Frith voted in favour of the budget of investment and welcomed the considerable early steps that the Council is taking to deliver the Dewsbury Blueprint in difficult circumstances.