By Chris Gee

Copyright manchestereveningnews

Suggestions to change a town’s high street have been the subject of fierce debate after options to make it one-way for vehicles or pedestrianise a section were floated. Bolton Council have suggested two options for a multi-million pound scheme for Winter Hey Lane in Horwich which they say aim to make the road ‘greener, quieter and more appealing’. The first proposal suggests making Winter Hey Lane one-way westbound from Lee Lane to Chorley New Road. To see planning applications; traffic and road diversions and layout changes; and more, visit the Public Notices Portal HERE The second proposal would see part of the road pedestrianised to create a flexible space for things like markets, events, outdoor seating and socialising. To do this, Winter Hey Lane would be closed between Lee Lane and St John Street, with access for businesses during certain hours. Two-way access for all vehicles would remain in place between St John Street and Chorley New Road. Access to Harrison Street would be permitted from Wright Street. The council said people can also make their own suggestions for the area during the period of consultation, including preferring no changes at all. The council said changes to the road layout would make it easier to use for pedestrians, people with disabilities and people on bikes, as well as safer for children. They said new trees and plants would be brought in and stepped kerbs replaced with specially planted rain gardens. Paths and surfacing would be improved along the length of the street and complemented by improvements to public areas, plus new benches and seating to encourage people to stop and sit. However, Bolton West MP Phil Brickell, who himself has his constituency office on Winter Hey Lane, said that after speaking to local businesses ‘the consensus is that they feel any of the current proposals would be detrimental to their business and to Horwich as a whole’. He has asked for his letter to the council to be noted as a ‘formal response to the consultation on behalf of local businesses’. He added: “Concerns were expressed that any form of pedestrianisation or one way system would impact the surrounding roads and make them more dangerous.” He has suggested that Horwich town centre could benefit from the money being spent on other things such as CCTV, additional parking and public toilets. The Local Democracy Reporting Service visited Horwich to ask shoppers and business owners what they thought. On a stormy September Tuesday lunchtime, Winter Hey Lane had a smattering of shoppers dodging the rain showers. The street, which is the central cross-town road link between Lee Lane and Chorley New Road, has a mix of cafes and several, varied retail and service businesses. Nicola Winstanley runs Horwich Appliance Centre which sells various white goods and vacuum cleaners. She said: “The schemes have their pros and cons and some businesses, such as cafes would benefit if traffic was cut. “My main concern is access for deliveries and the knock on affect for traffic. This business depends on deliveries, not just from vans but sometimes from HGVs and it’s important that we still have that access.” Shopper Sue Adamson, 65, said: “I’ve seen the proposals and would be in favour of anything that would make the town centre more attractive and get more people to visit and use the shops and businesses “I would hope the council takes into account of those businesses though before taking any decisions.” Heather Durham runs a photography and balloon business on the section of Winter Hey Lane affected by the proposals. She said: “I don’t think the plans will have the support of most businesses. “I’m concerned about deliveries and pick ups stopping traffic could harm that. There’s loads they could do without closing the road off. “Of course we want the area to be improved and that could include more benches, improved crossings and flowers and trees.” In the call for consultation responses, Bolton Council’s executive member for transport and highways, Coun Hamid Khurram gave the council’s view. He said: “The transformation of Winter Hey Lane is a key ambition in our masterplan for Horwich. “We envisage a welcoming road with a mix of shops, cafes and services where people enjoy visiting and want to linger.” Leaving the town’s post office is David Smith, 64, who describes himself as ‘Horwich born and bred’. He said: “They tried to pedestrianise a section back in the 80s or 90s and it was soon abandoned. I think closing the road to traffic would create rat-runs in the nearby residential streets for cars trying to get across town. “Any changes like this must have the support of the businesses that it will affect.” In his formal response on behalf of businesses on Winter Hey lane, Phil Brickell MP, said: “There were concerns regarding emergency services being able to access both the north and south of the town If the road was changed. “If vehicles are accessing side roads this would make it more difficult for services to respond at speed to an emergency. This has already been shown when temporary traffic lights are in place. “Businesses felt that pedestrianisation may help some of the local cafes, but other businesses would lose passing trade. Sign up to the MEN Politics newsletter Due North here “They were also concerned about deliveries and how HGVs would be able to tum around if there are people milling about in the pedestrianisation zone. “Many of the shops have deliveries throughout the day as they aren’t large shops like supermarkets who can accept deliveries in the evening.” The consultation runs until Thursday, October 16 and the online survey is available on the Bolton Council website.