A blueprint for the town ‘dominated by traffic’ and ‘without a centre’

Plans to improve the heart of Whitefield are set to be formally adopted. Bury Council is expected to approve the revised town centre blueprint following a period of consultation which has resulted in changes.

Key findings prior to producing the plan were that ‘Whitefield lacks a centre’, that ‘there is a lack of variety of things to do’, and the town is dominated by traffic. The plans which received most support from the 250 people who participated were improving crossing points for pedestrians and cyclists on Bury New Road and Higher Lane and to plant new trees, create wild flower areas and install box planters.

Proposals were also supported for ‘Whitefield Common’, which include moving the existing Uplands medical centre to the former Whitefield library, leaving the site open for residential development. The council said it was recognised that accessing funding to deliver the plan will be a challenge.

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In light of this, the authority is adopting a policy to ring-fence at least 10 per cent of the money received from locally raised capital receipts to help support improvements specifically in Whitefield. The pot is the first time the council has made such a commitment to a town plan in the borough and it is hoped it will kick-start a wider funding strategy for the delivery plan.

Areas of concern during the consultation included parking availability, particularly near to Slattery and fears that improving active travel infrastructure would be inappropriate due to road width, lack of demand, and the potential of additional congestion being created.

While two-thirds wanted Bury New Road to be kept as it is, one-third wanted footpath