A scheme to enhance the Market Place and the section of Douglas Street leading to Michael Street in Peel will get underway immediately after the Easter holidays.
The improvements will create an attractive space for people to enjoy and make it easier for pedestrians to move around this part of the town. The ability to rearrange how the area is laid out will allow for flexible use when demand exists, helping to support community events while still providing parking.
Buff coloured natural sandstone paving is being used to enhance the area and to complement the historic buildings that line the square and the shopping streets and give the conservation area its character.
The entrance to St Peter’s Church will be opened up and made accessible for all, while pavements will be widened where possible to create more space for pedestrians. Existing granite kerbs will be retained and reused within the overall scheme.
A coordinated scheme of street furniture, including waste bins, bollards and street lighting columns will be installed, further enhancing the quality of the area.
Work will also take place to upgrade the underground services to help ensure the improvements are long-lasting.
Ray Harmer MHK, Chair of the Peel Regeneration Committee, commented: ‘I am delighted that the Peel regeneration scheme has been approved. This is a significant investment and a vote of confidence in Peel. Hopefully it will be the catalyst for further investment and regeneration and encourage more people and businesses into Peel. It is the culmination of a great effort by the committee, the commissioners and the wider community, working together to see this come to fruition.’
Jackie O’Haloran, Commissioner and member of the Peel Regeneration Committee, added: ‘We have worked very hard for several years to make sure that Peel will benefit from the Regeneration Fund. We’re trying to make Peel more attractive and improve it in a responsible and sympathetic way. We are aware it will cause disruption, but the team are working to minimise this and the end result will be a significant improvement for the whole community.’
The proposals and the arrangements for traffic that will be in place for the first phase of the scheme were explained to businesses and members of the public at a drop-in session earlier this month.
Prior to work starting on 29th March 2016 the contractor will be writing to people in the area with more information.
The regeneration work is being overseen by the Department of Infrastructure.
