City centre revamp to bring year-long disruption

Multimillion-pound improvement works planned for a city centre in Lancashire will see disruption for 12 months.

The scheme at Friargate South, Cheapside, Market Place and Orchard Street in Preston will include new trees, paving and road resurfacing, planting and street furniture.

The works will be carried out in a phased sequence across the different streets and are due to start on 6 July, but contractors will strive to minimise disruption where possible, the city council said.

Access for traffic into and through the Harris Quarter will change for about 20 weeks involving some temporary road closures and diversions in two phases.

Phase one will commence on Cheapside on 6 July and will take about three months.

Works will also start on one side of Orchard Street as part of the initial phase.

Councillor Valerie Wise, deputy leader and cabinet member for community wealth building and city regeneration, said: "Upgrades to this part of the city are much needed to bring it in line with other parts of the city, including Fishergate and Friargate North that have already been modernised and transformed.

"The detailed phasing of the works has been planned with businesses and traders in mind to keep business as usual a priority throughout the works and we ask everyone to please bear with us whilst we improve what is a very busy retail and visitor destination in the city."

The improvement works are funded by part of the £20m levelling-up funding secured by the city council from central government in 2023.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.