£3.46million bid for a greener and safer Nelson given go ahead

On Thursday July 21, Pendle Council agreed to send a business case to the government and ask for the release of £3,463,952 of Towns Funding designated for the Accessible Nelson project.

The Accessible Nelson project is being led by Pendle Council and is one of eight projects that the Nelson Town Deal board is overseeing as part of a ten year plan for a brighter Nelson.

If the government agrees, the first phase of work involving improvements to the busy Leeds Road/New Scotland Road junction should get underway from April 2023.

Pendle Council Engineer Scott Whalley during the consultation

Plans include tree planting to create a greener and more attractive town centre, with improved traffic flow for drivers.

Leader of Pendle Borough Council, Councillor Nadeem Ahmed, said: “I’d like to thank all the people, organisations and voluntary groups who gave their views in the spring.

“They have helped us shape up exciting plans to transform our town centre and improve routes into and through Nelson.

“Our aim is to extend the high quality environment we already have in the heart of the town.

“The investment will help to make routes safer and more attractive for pedestrians and cyclists, whilst easing congestion to keep a steady flow of traffic.

“It’s about creating a better balance for everyone as well as reducing carbon emissions."

Nelson is one of over 100 towns in England to be chosen for funding from the government’s new Towns Fund, with Nelson ear-marked to receive £25million.

Chair of the Nelson Town Deal Board, Stephen Barnes, said: “All eight projects, including Accessible Nelson, will play a part in transforming the town and increasing a sense of pride and belonging for people who live, work or study in Nelson.”

Accessible Nelson will focus on creating attractive main gateways into Nelson, including widening paths and greening the town centre with more trees.

It will also prioritise creating better junctions at Leeds Road/Scotland Road and Railway Street/Broadway to improve traffic flow as well as working on improvements in and around these junctions for cyclists and pedestrians.

Council Leader, Councillor Nadeem Ahmed at Marsden Park, with one of the plans

Additionally, three parks have been chosen to benefit from £590,000 funding as part of a project designed to help address poor health and wellbeing in the town’s community including childhood obesity.

Pendle Council gave the go ahead to the Healthy Town plan earlier this month and are awaiting approval from the government to release the funding.

Nelson Town Council is providing £250,000 of funding to improve the parks and Pendle Council’s Environmental Services is contributing £2,500.

Councillor Ahmed added: “This major funding will transform our town and provide new opportunities for local people through £25million of New Towns Fund investment.

“Nelson’s parks are a huge asset for Pendle as a whole and we’re immensely grateful to Nelson Town Council for providing extra funding to make a bigger difference."

For more information about all eight projects visit: www.nelsontowndeal.co.uk