Work on Town Hall frontage to start

Work on the development of Biddulph Town Hall frontage will start in February 2025 introducing a shared, same level space along the High Street to create a much more pedestrian friendly environment and calm traffic moving through the Town Centre.

Funding for the project has been secured from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund which is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK by investing in communities and place, supporting local business and providing opportunities to boost people and skills. 

The development of the frontage primarily involves plans to improve the area in front of the town hall by reconfiguring the current space by removing the existing railing to avoid clutter. The square will be designed as an extension of the existing green landscaped lawn with raised seating, with a particular focus on making the miners’ memorial wheel more prominent.

The new public square aims to use high quality materials and bespoke street furniture which will help enhance the quality of the space and experience of the Town Centre. 

The plans will open up the area making it a more sociable space which will be accessible for public events and reconfiguring it as a public square to host future markets, community projects and other community focused events. 

The project also aims to raise the profile of the miners’ memorial wheel, which has historical significance due to its association with the Victoria Colliery. The wheel was placed outside the town hall in 1983 by George Humphreys, a former mayor who worked at the colliery.

The development also includes plans for memorial bricks where names will be inscribed, celebrating the mining heritage of Biddulph. This aspect has been discussed with the community, including consultation with Biddulph in Bloom regarding the surrounding planting program.

The planning application for these changes has been referenced as SMD/2023/0153 on the district council’s planning portal.

Biddulph Town Hall’s frontage development is not only about physical transformation but also about honoring the town’s industrial history while fostering a more sociable community space.

Work on the project is expected to be completed by August.

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