Banbridge Masterplan unveiled to the public

The vision proposes that Banbridge will have a ‘flourishing and healthy town centre backed up by its high proportion of local independent businesses and supported by the introduction of some larger stores.’

It also states that the town will offer a ‘rich evening cafe and restaurant culture to complement its strong range of evening entertainment.’

The vision believes that the town centre will be sustained by a ‘loyal local customer base’ while people from further afield will be enticed to visit by its ‘unique experience, attactions and welcoming atmosphere’.

There are plans to pedestrianise parts of the town, such as Church Square which it proposes should change from a ‘traffic dominated junction to an historically significant space’.

There is also a proposalto create a safer environment for pedestrians by pedestrianising The Cut and placing pedestrian priority on the lower part of Scarva Street.

Plans to create more green spaces in the town would see new footbridges linking the Greenway from the leisure centre with Solitude Park while a boardwalk could be built below the River Bann bridge.

A new public park on Kenlis Street is mentioned as well as a new pedestrian link along the Old Railway Line.

The masterplan proposals will be on display at the following venues: Banbridge Old Town Hall offices from 26 November 2015 to 18 February 2016; Banbridge leisure Centre from 26 November 2015 to 14 January 2016 and Tesco, Banbridge from 15 January 2016 to 31 January 2016.

“Open House” events at the Old Town Hall, Banbridge will also take place on 26 November 2015 from 4.00pm to 8.00pm and on the 19 January 2016 from 6.00pm to 8.00pm where consultants from Aecom will be available to discuss the proposals.

The plans are also available at https://www.dsdni.gov.uk/consultations and http://www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.org/consultations.