In order for this money to be available, it must be approved by the Council's 'Executive Member' against a costed plan of proposed works.
Apparently this 'approval' took place on 27th July this year against a plan which I reproduce below.
"THE PROPOSALS"
2.1 Improvements to public realm, Market Street
It is proposed that the public realm opposite the precinct on Market Street is resurfaced to the same standard as that outside the Library and on the precinct opposite. Works would cover the stretch from the library to Heywood Street.
Estimated Project Cost: £31,300
2.2 Environmental Improvements to Precinct Area
It is proposed that Environmental Improvements to the precinct area are carried out. Works will include some landscaping and planting.
Estimated Project Cost: £7,200
2.3 Local Market Feasibility
It is proposed that the feasibility of holding a specialist local market is investigated. Work will include consultation with local residents, businesses and potential traders and will be carried out in the context of the work that is currently taking place on markets across the Borough.
Estimated Project Cost £1,500
2.4 Environmental Improvements to Memorial Gardens
It is proposed to carry out some environmental improvements to the Memorial Gardens that are located in the district centre to give it more of a park feel and make it a more attractive place for local residents. Works will include some landscaping and planting, installation of new benches and bins.
Estimated Project Cost £10,000
Total Project costs: £50,000
There has been discussion between a group of traders and residents and the Ward's three Councillors about a Public Consultation on what they would like the money to be spent . This was to take place during an 'Open Day' on the Square and was (& still is as far as I know) to happen within the next month.
The point was made that it seemed, according to the Plan, that the decision on how to spend the money had already been taken, but assurances were given by the Councillors that the proposals in the Plan were not set in stone but were contrived to allow the 'approval' to take place.
It was made clear that the final decisions would be taken by the Councillors, albeit after listening to the ideas and suggestions of the residents, but not necessarily taking any or all of them on board.
Fair enough.
Now let's look at the proposals.
2.1 Improvements to public realm, Market Street
"It is proposed that the public realm opposite the precinct on Market Street is resurfaced to the same standard as that outside the Library and on the precinct opposite. Works would cover the stretch from the library to Heywood Street.
Estimated Project Cost: £31,300"
This represents 63% of the available money!!!!
What it actually means is block paving the pavement from The Village Chippy to Nemo's Barbers.
Now look at the pavement as it is. Photo's below taken this morning.
It is Tarmaced, well edged and in superb condition. Not a pothole, blemish or hazard from one end to the other. I dare say it's one of the best stretches of pavement in Little Lever.
Who on earth would countenance, let alone propose, to waste £31,500 ripping it up when there's a) nothing wrong with it and b) many more necessary and urgent things to spend the money on.
Block paving on this stretch wouldn't put even one extra pair of 'Feet on the Street' and would only produce a marginal improvement in the 'Attractiveness' of the Village Centre compared to some of the other things I have discussed. If anything it's the pavement on the Precinct side that wants tarting up.
I have a nasty suspicion, however, that this is the one proposal that is indeed 'set in stone'
2.2 Environmental Improvements to Precinct Area
It is proposed that Environmental Improvements to the precinct area are carried out. Works will include some landscaping and planting.
Estimated Project Cost: £7,200
This is so non-specific as to be meaningless, so how any figure let alone that of £7,200 can be arrived at is a mystery to me. Might include the floral decoration ( see previous post) but nothing to indicate that.
2.3 Local Market Feasibility
It is proposed that the feasibility of holding a specialist local market is investigated. Work will include consultation with local residents, businesses and potential traders and will be carried out in the context of the work that is currently taking place on markets across the Borough.
Estimated Project Cost £1,500
Now it is true that there would be great benefit to 'Feet on the Street' by periodically holding a 'Market' of one sort or another on the Square. It is ideal for this. Of course a Farmers or Victorian Market would probably produce a measure of whinging by some traders on competition grounds, but this would be extremely short sighted. Personally, if, once a month people were eating hot dogs on the square instead of dining in the Tea Room, I'd live with it. Perhaps in the intervening weeks, because of it, they would come to the Tea Room.
A Car Boot sale again, hopefully would get more people in the Centre, to the advantage of all the traders.
The problems I have with this proposal are a) the cost of Investigation and b) What's this got to do with other Markets across the Borough.
The Council can have the Consultation for free - just combine it with the Open Day consultation on how to spend the 50k.
2.4 Environmental Improvements to Memorial Gardens
It is proposed to carry out some environmental improvements to the Memorial Gardens that are located in the district centre to give it more of a park feel and make it a more attractive place for local residents. Works will include some landscaping and planting, installation of new benches and bins.
Estimated Project Cost £10,000
As laudable as this proposal is in developing a very nice area, the area is on the very edge of the Village Centre, has little 'pedestrian traffic' other than as a cut-through, and would again produce no increase in 'Feet on the Street'
It is as if whoever came up with this Plan had never visited Little Lever.
The Plan was originally conceived in 2006, albeit updated in May 2009. It doesn't, in my view, address the urgency or reality of action needed to counteract the effects of the recession on the Village Centre.
What must be borne in mind is that whichever group is in control of the Council after next May, financial restrictions are likely to mean that this will be the last Township Grant that Little Lever will receive. The Officers of the Council have already had a go at removing the Township status of Little Lever earlier this year. Next time they will really have the excuse that there is no money.
This money must be spent to produce the maximum improvement in attractiveness of the Village Centre to produce more 'Feet on the Street' and I don't think the proposals currently on the table achieve that.
Lastly - The Public Consultation must happen. For it not to, will leave the residents with the justifiable impression that local democracy is not working and all political parties will feel the result next year.
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