A pedestrianisation plan for Penrith’s Corney Place has been unveiled.
Cumbria County Council staff were on hand to tell people about the plans to create a public realm area in front of Italian restaurant Villa Bianca, complete with seating, planters and possibly a sculpture. It would also look at making the Corney Place road one-way southbound.
Caroline Patterson, of the county council, said the £120,000 scheme would encourage pedestrian activity into Penrith from new housing developments on the outskirts of town.
“We want to make nice places where people want to start to congregate and make them their own. At the moment, it not a very welcoming environment. It has got very narrow pavements and is a bit of an eyesore,” she said.
Queen Street resident Daniel Sencier praised the scheme, saying he was all for pedestrianisation and would “love to see” the whole town centre pedestrianised.
“As part of an experiment, a year ago my wife, and I, decided to get rid of our car. We just go on foot and bus and the difference to our lives has been amazing. My wife lost three stone and I lost two stone. We actually know so many people in Penrith now because we walk everywhere,” he told the Herald.
Penrith town councillor Hilary Snell said: “I support having the opportunity to sit down somewhere that doesn’t have traffic.”
She said projects which enable and support people to walk into town should be encouraged.
However, Penrith deputy mayor Dave Knaggs said it was disappointing that the scheme would not reduce traffic.
Mr Knaggs — who is heavily involved in the Penrith Futures Partnership, looking at ways to improve the town — said he would like to see less traffic in the town centre as this would cut pollution.
Cumbria County Council commissioned a transport improvement plan for Penrith to support Eden District Council’s local plan which looks at future development.
A county council spokesman said: “The transport plan identifies a range of improvements to the highway network that are required to support growth ambitions.
“These improvements are being delivered by Cumbria County Council in phases as and when development timescales are understood.
“The most recent improvement proposed is located at Corney Place and has been identified due to the increase in development to the north of the town centre and the anticipated increase in pedestrians walking in the area.
“The scheme proposes to increase the pedestrian space, reducing the number of pedestrian crossings and providing an opportunity to enhance the public realm as a gateway into the town centre.”
