How Garden Street is living up to its name as improvements to St Annes town centre worth £3.1m continue
“These projects build brilliantly on the success of St Annes Square, making it easier to enjoy everything our beautiful town centre and stunning seafront have to offer”
Garden Street looks set to live up its name as measures are taken to protect its trees as the £1.5m third phase of the St Annes Improvement Scheme there is carried out.
Fylde Council has commissioned the scheme and outlines in its latest update that the project has been carefully designed with tree protection at its heart.
To keep the street’s trees healthy throughout the works, measures in place include protective fencing where space allows, no-go zones to keep machinery and materials away from roots and hand excavation near roots instead of heavy machinery.
The council says that the street’s new design will improve conditions for trees in the long run, with permeable surfaces, better drainage and tree-friendly materials replacing some existing hard surfacing.
Meanwhile, says the update, Tarmac foundations have been laid at the south end of the street, ready for Kellen paving and the new kerb line is taking shape, with granite kerbs being installed throughout.
Phase two of the scheme, the Pier Link between Clifton Drive and the Promenade, is also still ongoing, with an update on completion expected later this month or early next after the work went beyond the 18-week target set in February.
Paving on the Lord Derby side of the street is said by the council to be is nearing completion, with work now moving to the St Annes Road West/Clifton Drive South corner.
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Original York Stone paving reclaimed from St Annes Square has been re-laid and new red tactile paving is now in place, while the footpath on the town hall side has been redesigned to retain the area’s traditional character.
The scheme will also include the establishment of an extra zebra crossing on North Promenade, allowing pedestrians to cross either side of the Pier.
Phases two and three follow the completion last year of the £3.13m refurbishment of St Annes Square.
Fylde Council leader Cllr Karen Buckley said of the works: “These projects build brilliantly on the success of St Annes Square, creating accessible, attractive connections that will help our businesses thrive while making it easier for residents and visitors to enjoy everything our beautiful town centre and stunning seafront have to offer.”