12-week St Annes project still to be finished - almost a year on

Work started on a new look for Wood Street car park in St Annes late February last and was expected to last until May.

Along with repaving of the footways surrounding the car park, the aim is to follow the removal of existing trees – done in the early stages of the project – with the planting of new trees and the introduction of several landscaped areas.

But then lockdown came around a month after work started and a succession of other setbacks since mean the work is still to be completed, although the car park itself opened to vehicles in September.

Steven Kyle, landscape and urban design officer at Fylde Council, said: “The Wood Street scheme has been a difficult project and there have been numerous issues which have caused delay.

“As well as lockdown and weather issues, affecting contractor availability and supplies of materials, problems have included access to existing services being more labour intensive than initially thought.

“The principal contractor, Lancashire County Council, believes there is approximately 10 days labour /works to complete the tree installation, which is weather and winter maintenance operations dependent.

“LCC carry out public realm enhancement work, on behalf of Fylde Council, on a no profit basis, but their priority work is associated with ensuring the highways remain open during the winter period.

“Therefore, during adverse weather, some or all of the construction staff may be taken off the on-site works to be deployed on gritting duties.

“However, once the works recommence, it should take 10 working days to complete the tree pits and install the trees.”

Colin Ballard, chairman of the St Annes Enterprise Partnership, said: “I can’t believe this project has taken so long and we all really look forward to it being finished as soon as possible.”

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