A VISION to turn Leek into a ‘vibrant and distinctive’ market town has been revealed.
Discussions are beginning on the Leek Town Centre Masterplan, which has been commissioned by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council.
The report, by the BE Group, makes a series of recommendations aimed at transforming Leek into a ‘destination market town’ that will attract new visitors and businesses.
A draft vision of the masterplan states: “Leek will be recognised as a destination market town that has a broad appeal to both local people and visitors.
“This appeal will be based around a vibrant market and distinctive independent shopping offer supported through a range of cultural, education, employment and leisure opportunities.”
The report highlights a need for better transport links, a strong demand for a community, arts and heritage facility, gateway junctions to be upgraded, and a commercial square with enhanced pedestrian facilities.
Council leader Sybil Ralphs said that the masterplan was an exciting development for the town.
She said: “There are practicality issues and things need to come together including funding, but this is not a PR exercise.
“This is fantastically exciting for Leek and Cheadle which is also having a masterplanning operation.
“We are listening to what the people want.” The main focus of the report is on 15 ‘opportunity sites’ for redevelopment.
This includes the Foxlowe Hotel, London, California, Compton and Portland Street Mills, the war memorial, the Smithfield Centre, Pickwood Road, land to the rear of St Edward Street, Eaton House, British Trimmings, Premier Garage, the former Broad Street garage and the High Street and Market Street West car parks.
Each site has been given two or three potential uses and has been a scored out of 36, with marks given for things such as regeneration benefits and economic viability.
The four potential sites topping the list with 28 points are the London Mill, the War Memorial, Pickwood Road, and the Foxlowe Hotel, which has just been leased to the landlady of the Roebuck.
It states three potential uses of the Foxlowe – a three storey, 30,000 sq ft arts centre with 80 car parking spaces, a employment/ residential option, or a leisure/ employment option.
The Foxlowe was scored highly for regeneration benefits, order of cost, night time economy benefits, community, leisure and cultural added value, but scored low for commercial added value and economic viability.
Interestingly the report suggests an arts centre on the site of the former town hall – the preferred site of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council – would have no provision for car parking and would be of low economic viability.
The report suggests potential to develop the London Mill into a hotel and employment zone, a leisure and residential zone around the War Memorial area including the Talbot and White Lion Inns, and potential for a retail and car parking zone in the Pickwood Road area.
It also criticised the ‘largely small, dispersed public parking facilities’ and called for main car parking areas to be rationalised to two facilities.
It also recommends an enhanced pedestrian/cycle routes to Brough Park, traffic calming measure in St Edward Street, potential to promote evening culture and an after-hours traffic restriction scheme.
UKIP councillor Steve Povey said: “I just hope this doesn’t get people too excited, but you need a vision to aim for.
“There must be capital investments in the schemes which will cost a lot of money, I just hope this doesn’t give people false hope."