Market town plan unveiled
Plans to breathe new life into Wellington, including a bid to introduce a Continental-style cafe culture to the town centre, were unveiled today. It is hoped a 10-year planning process will finally come to fruition with work due to begin on the first stage - the revamp of the centre's three Medieval streets - early next year, a public meeting heard today.
Plans that could see the millennium memorial moved were also discussed, with the proposal of moving it only within Market Square welcomed by business people, residents and councillors.
However, planners refused to rule out moving it further afield and said any public demands for it to be kept in one place threatened future funding.
Final plans for the first stage - Crown, Bell and Duke streets - were unveiled at the meeting in All Saints Church. Members of the public are pictured at the meeting.
They would see the area completely re-paved to replace the dark clay-brown stone with light grey and cream. It is hoped the change will encourage pubs and cafes to spill out into the road, creating a warm, friendly cafe area.
Consultant designer Tom Lonsdale, working for Wellington Town Partnership, also revealed early plans for Market Square and the rest of the town.
He hopes to extend the square up to the town's railway bridge to create a more continuous feel.
Other ideas include bringing in trees to the square, altering traffic flows through the town, and moving parking areas.
Ross Vickers, chairman of the Wellington Civic Society and a member of the partnership, said it was hoped work would start in February.
Wellington Mayor Councillor Frank Burns said he thought the meeting had been very successful and welcomed the development of the proposals.
Town and borough Councillor Gary Davies added: "There is nobody here this morning that is against change. We want to see Wellington moving forward."
Concerns over the plans included problems with parking and access to shops.
By Dave West
