THE RENOVATION of Droitwich High Street is a step closer after Worcestershire Highways bosses revealed an artist’s impression of how it will look, once it is completed.
The improvements, which are aimed at making the town centre more welcoming to visitors and shoppers and boosting the local economy and community, will cost around £650,000 – it will be jointly funded by Worcestershire County Council and Wychavon District Council.
In 2014, after complaints that the High Street was in a state of disrepair and had a number of uneven surfaces, a survey was carried out which deemed Droitwich High Street residents’ top priority for improvements.
And, following a recent meeting between the Wychavon and Worcestershire authorities, the project was given the go ahead with the county council stumping up £500,000 and the district council £150,000.
As well as the carriageway and footways, there will also be a raised crossing point installed to make crossing the road easier for wheelchairs and people with pushchairs.
Other enhancements, funded by Droitwich Town Council, will make it easier to run events in the High Street.
Those behind the scheme have vowed to make the work ‘visually sympathetic’ with materials reflecting the High Street’s historic character.
They also said the number of on-street parking spaces would ‘remainly largley unchanged’.
County councillor for Droitwich East, Coun Pam Davey, said she was delighted the improvements – that were desperately needed – were finally going ahead.
“The local people of Droitwich will get the High Street they deserve and I am sure this will have far reaching benefits for visitors and the local economy.”
Worcestershire County Council’s cabinet member for economy, skills and infrastructure, Coun Ken Pollock added: “These improvements in Droitwich are part of a county-wide investment programme into our key towns and city centres.
“This clearly demonstrates both our commitment to keeping all of Worcestershire open for business, and forms part of the drive for a World Class County.”
Work is due to start in the spring and summer of 2017 once essential infrastructure maintenance has been carried out by Severn Trent Water.
The Severn Trent maintenance will take place between April and June 2017 and the High Street work should be completed by mid-October.
St Richard’s Festival and the Droitwich Spa Food and Drink Festival will still take place but will be adapted to fit in with the works.
An exhibition of the plans will go on display in Droitwich Library on Monday (November 28) and run until December 2.
Visitwww.worcestershire.gov.uk/droitwichspa for more details.
