Boost for high street as £654k refurbishment scheme for Ormskirk town centre revealed

Dec 27 2012 by Rob Pattinson, Ormskirk Advertiser

ORMSKIRK town centre is set to benefit from a £654,000 facelift to help breathe new life into the high street.

The funds, welcomed by town retailers and ward councillors, will be used for a major improvement project centred on refurbishing Moor Street.

Full details of the scheme are yet to be revealed but the Advertiser understands it will include resurfacing, new lighting and benches on Moor Street as well as replacing some of the marble block paving on Aughton Street. A sum of £265,000 will be invested from the borough council’s coffers, alongside £389,000 set aside by Lancashire County Council in its commissioning plan.

Some £63,000 will also be invested by the borough council on an extension to Sandy Lane car park in Skelmersdale.

The new capital projects were announced at a meeting of full council last week by Cllr David Westley, portfolio holder for finance. Work is likely to begin before next summer.

The borough council is able to fund the schemes due to a projected £500,000 revenue underspend in this financial year.

Derby ward Cllr Adrian Owens welcomed the investment for what it would do to improve the high street experience for shoppers.

He said: “As an Ormskirk councillor I know I get a lot of complaints myself about the state of Moor Street and how it has deteriorated.

“I’m delighted we have been able to secure substantial support from the county council in taking forward a scheme that will keep Ormskirk attractive and keep people coming in and shopping in the town centre.”

Rachelle Atherton, of clothes store Competitive Edge, and a member of the Love Ormskirk group, said: “It’s exciting to hear the town centre is going to get a facelift, Moor Street definitely needs money spending on it. We’re desperate to attract new retailers to the town centre and this can only help.”