COUNCILLORS Will have To Choose Between Rival Designs For West Blackhall Street
A MAJOR makeover of Greenock’s main shopping street is now not expected to start until next year and will take almost a year to complete.
Councillors will have to choose between two designs for the West Blackhall Street public realm revamp after walking and cycling charity Sustrans said they could provide up to £1million funding if the eventual project met its criteria.
The current proposal would introduce one-way east to west traffic for the street’s length. A rival Sustrans design is being drawn up. It will also have the same one-way system but is expected to include a contraflow bike lane heading west to east, meaning less space for parking.
Around £1.5million has been set aside for work but that leaves a funding gap.
A report to councillors states: “It is anticipated that implementation of the West Blackhall Street public realm project will commence in 2020 with an implementation period of 40 to 50 weeks.”
It continues: “Sustrans had reviewed the public realm improvement plans for West Blackhall Street and indicated that, if the design was more in keeping with its draft funding principles, it would be a scheme to which it could contribute funding.”
The Sustrans principles include the route being suitable for a 12-year-old to walk/cycle unaccompanied; that road space is reallocated to prioritise people on foot and cycle and that the design complies with the Equality Act by being suitable for all.
Sustrans are funding a design review and are developing new proposals with this process expected to be completed by early June.
The report states: “Ultimately, there would be two designs developed for the street.
“A design review of the proposals in line with Sustrans principles would open up the possibility for Sustrans funding for the implementation stage, with funding of up to £1million a possibility.
“This would help meet an anticipated funding gap between the approved budget and expected cost of the project.
“Ultimately, the decision of which scheme to implement will be for the Committee, following input from the Greenock Town Centre Regeneration Forum.
“A principle of the existing design that will be retained for the design review is making West Blackhall Street a one-way street with traffic running east to west i.e. from Oak Mall towards Grey Place.
“This will enable the council to begin to bring forward the necessary Traffic Regulation Orders for this change to be implemented as part of the public realm project.”
Other aspects of the project include wider pavements, high quality paving, street trees, feature lighting and seating.
