PEOPLE will be asked to give their views on proposals for the town centre public realm works before detailed plans are submitted.
Sessions begin this week when the full plans for the works will be available to look at in the former Better Barnsley Shop on Cheapside on Monday, Tuesday and Friday, (January 19), from 10am-4pm.
They can also be viewed in Market Parade on Tuesday, January 23; Friday, January 26 and Saturday, January 27, from 10am-4.30pm.
Sample materials and layout details will be on display and the design team will be able to answer questions and discuss the proposals. Details of the plans will also be shown on the TV screen in Market Parade.
The significant regeneration of the town centre’s public realm will include a new public square and improvements to May Day Green and Kendray Street, Cheapside, Queen Street, Peel Square and Midland Street.
Under the proposals, Peel Square is 're-imagined' as a historic town square with the public toilets and market stalls gone and the area de-cluttered to open up views of the surrounding buildings. The idea is that it would be used as an event space which could be used for ‘pop up’ stalls.
Midland Street will be a connecting route from the Courthouse area to The Glass Works and the plan is to reduce traffic to make it better for pedestrians.
This would see the taxi rank relocated to Eldon Street and the footpath widened on the interchange side of Midland Street which will have trees and benches to make it more appealing.
The Cheapside and Queen Street retail areas will be ‘craggy’ in character and have clusters of outdoor market stalls.
The large new square very much remains the focal point of the pubic realm works and will boast terraced steps from the interchange up to the main square area, which is bordered by the new cinema, bowling alley, library and the revamped Metropolitan Centre.
Plans show there would be a space in front of the library with Astroturf and stone terraces to create an amphitheatre along with a water pool and outdoor dining for restaurants.
If planning consent is approved following consultation, the phased programme of works will start on Cheapside and May Day Green in spring this year and be completed in 2020 for the opening of the retail and leisure phase of the £130m Glass Works redevelopment.
