'Kirkham is under assault' - anger as Market Square is dug up again
“Kirkham is under assault. Is there no planning or thought given?”
Councillors and residents have again criticised the repeated utility works in Kirkham’s Market Square, claiming the area has suffered a constant ‘assault’ as pavements are dug up once again.
Councillors Adam Breirley and Chris Hopkinson have both been left outraged after Kirkham’s newly-renovated Market Square was dug up again this week, just one month after previous works left pavestones cracked, chipped and damaged.
Cadent Gas dug up Market Square earlier this week, installing temporary traffic lights which caused delays of up to 20 minutes across the town. United Utilities had been due to start separate works close to the site today but has confirmed the job has been postponed until later this year.
Councillor Brierley told The Gazette: “All this just before the Christmas lights switch-on and during one of the busiest times of year for our local shops. What on earth is going on?
“Lancashire County Council is supposed to coordinate these works. Where is the planning and common sense? Kirkham brought to a standstill because nobody is joining the dots.
“I’ve already raised concerns about the constant digging up of our pavements and the council have confirmed that the utility companies paid for the previous repairs, not local taxpayers but it still isn’t good enough.
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Market Square has benefitted from its major transformation in 2023, with improvements made to pavements, shop fronts, the road quality and other aesthetics like benches and flower displays.
It is set to host the town’s Christmas Markets & Lights Switch-On on Saturday 21 November; but Cllr Hopkinson is concerned about the effect that ongoing works could have on the event. He added: “Kirkham is under assault. Our main shopping street is a 3rd of a mile long, this is our shops busiest period and we have the town’s biggest day, Kirkham Christmas Lights, in just over a week.
How can LCC allow Cadent and United Utilities to dig up our street, with 2 sets of traffic lights in such a short space of time, causing grid lock, disruption to the shops and threatening our biggest day. Is there no planning or thought given?”