Despair for Preston businesses as iconic Friargate remains carved up two years on
It was two years ago that Lancashire County Council announced plans to transform Preston city centre in a way which it said would suit modern needs and benefit businesses. Friargate was central to that vision, with a tree-lined, pedestrian friendly future complete with outdoor seating and a traffic-free environment the end goal.
Among those is Bernice Newton who has owned Town House Coffee and Brew Bar since 2016. Bernice has repeatedly expressed concerns about how the works are being run and says takings have significantly dropped throughout the much extended period. For Benice, a big concern is how unwelcoming the street currently appears and the extent to which this is deterring customers from visiting. She said: “If people are wanting to come into Preston city centre, they’re having to really plan their route or they or they just can’t be bothered. It’s easier to just get on the motorway and go to Manchester or go to Southport.”
When it announced the plans, the council said the changes would boost connectivity by bus, rail and active travel in the city centre and would encourage people to moving between the university and the Harris Quarter. This, it said, would be done by regenerating the area and joining up both sides of the city.
Noel Corless has been based on the street much longer and says the issue has taken a toll on his mental health as well as badly hitting his finances. Noel runs That Comic Shop and says business has been worse in the recent months than any time in his 15 years running the business. “I do feel like I deserve more support from the council and the university because I know people who come to this uni because the comic shop is here. The contractors that are doing the works, if you need anything, they’ll sort you out. I asked for more space in May because I have a big annual event which always gets plenty of people here. They moved the stuff for me. They’ve been great but the councils haven’t.
For Neil, a big frustration is a lack of concise information from Lancashire County Council and Preston City Council about what work is being done and when it will be complete. In the meantime, rumours have spread about issues with deliveries and contractors holding up the timeline and Neil wants clarity and explanations.
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