A CONTROVERSIAL proposal to seal off a major entrance to Warrington’s multi-million £ Golden Square shopping centre is to come before borough planners a second time.
Officers are opposing the scheme which would involve amalgamating three shop units and expanding them across the pedestrian access to the shopping malls near Marks and Spencer in Sankey Street.
They believe it would significantly reduce and disrupt pedestrian flows between Sankey Street and the shopping centre.
There have also been four objections to the scheme from town centre businesses.
The matter was deferred on the last occasion because a representative of the applicants – the Warrington Retail Partnership – was unable to attend.
Since then, members of the planning sub-committed have visited the site.
Objectors say connectivity between the shopping centre and the rest of the town has always been a guiding principle of town centre development and the proposal would go against the whole spirit of that ethos.
There would be no objection in principle to the amalgamation of the shop units, nor changes to their elevations.
But the proposed absorption of the walkway into an enlarged store would have a negative impact on pedestrian flows and, as a result, the quality and attractiveness of that part of the town centre.
A report to be considered by the committee states: “The permanent closure of the passageway would significantly reduce permeability and disrupt pedestrian connectivity between Golden Square and Sankey Street – and vice versa – causing inconvenience for pedestrians and harming the quality and vitality of this important part of the town centre – Sankey Street between Market Gate and Bold Street.”
Bid to close shopping centre entrance
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
3 Comments
Personally don’t see the problem. There’s another major entrance onto Sankey St not much more than 100 yards to the left, plus the alleyway into the square just to the right and the major entrance by the skittles just beyond that. Plus there’s access through Marks & Spencer right there. Plenty of ways in from Sankey St.
I can’t see why they need to close it to amalgamate 3 shop units as last time I went there were still empty units for rent in the Golden Square not to mention all the empty shop units everywhere else in town. Maybe a new super store want it though. As for reducing the pedestrian flow between Sankey Street there’s only TJ Hughes anyway as the rest have closed or are accessible from the fish market. Can’t say I will lose any sleep over it whichever way it goes but it will be interesting to see what the planners say….. if they say NO it will only be appealed against anyway and allowed later 🙂
The problem being that it will cut off passing trade to major competitors TJ hughes and future owners of the large woolworths building both of which benefit as being a part of the golden square shopping experience without actualy being owned by the management comapany The small entry to the right is gated and has been locked many times in the past, this will become the norm. its not so much concern of the loss of entrance its the EXIT they want to stop as for the exit mentioned to the left what exactly is there to exit to, a pawnbrokers and some estate agents not exactly competition to them is it?, these people who enticed all the major players in Bridge Street into their grounds thus the starnglehold begins and the demise of town center as anything other than golden square itself. is that what we want?
you think they dont think like this then you’re nieve you think its coincidence they have the bus station attached to them, you think it coincidence that the grand new entrance near the hop pole makes it nearly impossible to get across to asda? its retail fortification