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The latest plans for improved public spaces and active travel routes in Todmorden town centre will be available at an event at Todmorden Learning Centre and Community Hub on Saturday 18 May.
The Public Places in the Heart of Todmorden project is part of the Todmorden Town Deal, a £17.5m regeneration programme funded by the UK Government, and led by Todmorden Town Deal Board, to develop the local economy and transform this market town.
Around £3.5million is being used to create a vibrant and green town square in the centre of Todmorden, that supports a thriving local economy and cultural sector. It aims to support local businesses and the markets, encourage more visitors to the town and promote walking and cycling.
The contractors for the project, urban and rural design practice, Planit, will be sharing the latest plans at the event which will run from 10am to 4pm. Representatives from Planit and members of Calderdale Council’s project team will be on hand to speak to people about the proposals and answer questions.
The latest designs have been shaped by feedback collected at the public event in March 2024, with plans focused around improving the popularity of the existing markets, hospitality and retail offer. They also aim to enhance the experience for pedestrians, shaping a more attractive and accessible town centre.
The event will also be an opportunity to find out more about the Active Todmorden project, another of the eight projects which make up the Town Deal programme.
Active Todmorden is a project which will enable more people to walk or cycle as part of their everyday journeys and improve access to Todmorden’s natural landscape. It will include the creation of new walking and cycling routes; improved pedestrian access, including links between Todmorden Rail Station and the town centre with upgraded crossings; and the creation of attractive and pleasant public spaces in the town centre.
Local knowledge and feedback from the March event have been used to develop preferred options for the project, with additional crossings included as a result of this feedback. The latest designs will be shared at the upcoming event on 18 May, which will mark the start of a consultation period, where people will have an opportunity to have their say on the plans. The consultation on the Active Todmorden project will run until Sunday 23 June 2024.
For those unable to attend the event, the plans and questionnaires for both Active Todmorden and Public Places in the Heart of Todmorden, will be available at www.todmordentowndeal.co.uk(external link)
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Towns, Tourism and Voluntary Sector, Cllr Sarah Courtney, said:
“The upcoming event in Todmorden is an opportunity to see the latest plans for two of the Town Deal projects, supporting improved public spaces and enhanced walking and cycling routes.
“The plans have been developed using feedback from previous information events and in consultation with local communities and the latest plans show the projects really taking shape.
“The individual identity of each of our towns is what makes them so special and local knowledge is so important in the development of these projects, to ensure this significant investment supports a safe, thriving and welcoming town.”
Pam Warhurst, Chair, Todmorden Town Deal Board said:
“The latest plans for both our active travel and town centre improvement projects have been shaped by an ongoing engagement and consultation process with lots of people contributing to how ideas and proposals have evolved. The next drop in event is a valuable opportunity for our project partner, Calderdale Council, to feed back to the local community and share further progress on these exciting plans for a greener, safer Todmorden.”
For more information about the Todmorden Town Deal, visit www.todmordentowndeal.co.uk(external link), and www.calderdalenextchapter.co.uk(external link) for Public Places in the Heart of Todmorden, Active Todmorden and other major projects across Calderdale.
The Town Deal programme aims to regenerate towns and deliver long-term economic and productivity growth. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has offered Town Deals to 101 places that submitted proposals, committing over £2.35bn of investment across around 700 projects nationwide.
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