The latest phase in the regeneration of Douglas town centre will be completed this Sunday, as the finishing touches are applied to work on lower Nelson Street.
New paving has been laid to make the street look cleaner, brighter and more inviting. The scheme, which was completed on time and on budget by work teams from the Department of Infrastructure who have applied a flexible working programme to reduce the impact of the improvement work on retailers, pedestrians and vehicle users. The completed scheme links with the upper section of Nelson Street to provide a quality pedestrian gateway into the retail heart of the town.
A new lighting column has been specially designed on behalf of Douglas Borough Council and this will be erected at the bottom end of lower Nelson Street in the next couple of weeks. The LED light, which can incorporate a CCTV camera, will be capable of displaying different colours to brighten up the surrounding area.
Access to the Marks and Spencer and Barclays Bank car parks off Bucks Road will resume from Monday, August 6, when attention will turn to work aimed at enhancing lower Wellington Street, from the Slug and Lettuce to its junction with Duke Street.
The new paving design, which is a mixture of flags and sets, will continue down to complete the pedestrian link to the town centre.
The catalyst behind these initiatives, and many others throughout the Island, has been the Isle of Man Town and Village Regeneration Scheme.
The projects have been co-ordinated by Regional Regeneration Committees – partnerships between Government, local authorities and private enterprise – and influenced by public feedback via consultations and roadshows.
The aim is to smarten up the appearance of the Island’s commercial centres and breathe fresh life into local economies.
David Cretney MHK, Chairman of the Douglas Regeneration Committee, said:
‘The regeneration work in Nelson Street represents a small but positive step forward in our efforts to create a more vibrant, attractive and welcoming capital. Douglas is the main gateway to the Isle of Man, as well as its commercial heart and economic hub, so it is in all our interests to ensure a bright, prosperous and sustainable future for the capital.’
He added:
‘I am pleased with the progress being achieved towards the regeneration of the town. Everybody is working well together and I’d like to thank the property owners for their co-operation throughout the current project. I am delighted that retailers in the town are getting behind the regeneration scheme and are submitting applications and receiving funding to enhance their premises. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of the Infrastructure team for their hard work and for the very high standards of workmanship that have been achieved.’
Grants have recently been awarded to Cowley Groves, Coffee Republic and 55 Duke Street for a range of improvements, including new shop fronts, painting and general repairs.
For further information about the Isle of Man Town and Village Regeneration Scheme visit http://old.gov.im/ded/Regeneration/
