Exciting work on Rawtenstall Town Square gets under way

Exciting plans to improve the town square area in Rawtenstall have been confirmed with an on-site start expected mid November.

The scheme will see a much-improved area with new parks and garden space and a dedicated events area created. The plans follow on from the council’s earlier decision not to progress with future phases of Spinning Point in order to create a new public area.  

The £300k budget for the proposal comes from Rossendale Council and Lancashire County Council. 

The scheme, delivered by Rossendale Council, will help to revitalise the town square, creating an outside meeting point, and will transform a neglected piece of landscape into a unique town square. The square will offer a variety of amenity spaces including hard landscape areas, allowing for leisure and pop-up event opportunities to stimulate further investment in the town. 

The scheme to enhance the square will complement the adjacent Spinning Point investment, undertaken in partnership with the county council and the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership. Contractors Eric Wright Ltd should be onsite for around three months from 15 November. 

Cllr Alyson Barnes said: “I am pleased that the new Rawtenstall town square area is now taking shape and believe that this will further enhance what has become an excellent town centre.  

“The Labour group took the decision to remove the old Valley Centre, refurbish the old town hall and create a new bus station, and the town square is the latest addition to the development.  

“I hope that the area will be enjoyed by all, and residents will get behind the scheme and support the new activities that are planned in the town centre. It’s important that we have a useable space and the opportunity to put on events in Rawtenstall, creating footfall for our excellent town centre businesses that were hit so hard by successive lockdowns during the pandemic.” 

The scheme to revitalise the town square will complement the adjacent Spinning Point development, connecting the bus station, refurbished town hall and the rest of the main shopping area through paving design and outdoor seating providing an attractive meeting area. 

The town centre improvement work includes funding from Lancashire County Council’s £12.8m Economic Recovery Growth Fund, which supports projects to help local economies to bounce back from the impacts of Covid-19. The aim is to kickstart the development of transformational schemes that will make a major economic recovery contribution and create jobs in parts of Lancashire which have been hardest hit, stimulating growth and unlocking further investment. 

 Lancashire County Councillor Aidy Riggott, Cabinet member for economic development and growth, said: “By working in partnership with our colleagues at Rossendale Council, we’ve been able to bring together the funding to make these improvements happen for Rawtenstall. 

 “This inspiring new space in the town will help to create a more welcoming place for people to visit, which in turn helps local companies through increased business and creates economic growth.” 

The council have also been able to incorporate the old bus company sign donated by Peter Fisher and wish to thank Mr Fisher for his kind donations. They have further stated that the plan will retain the existing Astoria Ballroom memorial.  

Greg Brett, Senior Project Manager, from Eric Wright Civil Engineering who are undertaking the works said: “We are delighted to be involved with the upcoming works at Rawtenstall Town Square.  The new square will provide a great public realm space for everyone and we look forward to delivering the completed works.” 

It is hoped that with additional funding and support from stakeholders the new town square can be further enhanced in time with more ornamental features added in phases.