Huge plans to transform Nuneaton town centre delayed amid ‘safety concerns’

Nuneaton’s Town Center Transformation Plan: Council Leader Raises ConcernsNuneaton’s Town Center Transformation Plan: Council Leader Raises Concerns Nuneaton’s council leader, Chris Watkins, has expressed reservations about the extensive plans to overhaul the town center, citing safety concerns. He declined a request to “get on with the job” and instead emphasized the need for thorough safety assessments. Regeneration Projects The town center is poised for three significant regeneration projects: “Grayson Place” in Abbey Street, “Bridge to Living” in Bridge Street, and “Justice Walk” in the Vicarage Street area, led by Warwickshire County Council. Millions of pounds in government funding have been allocated to these projects. Council Leader’s Concerns Councilor Jeff Clarke, however, raised concerns at a council meeting that funding could be lost if the plans were not implemented immediately. He urged the council leader to prioritize the project’s progress. In response, Councilor Watkins stated that he would not initiate the project until he was “100 percent happy with everything that has been planned for the site.” He highlighted safety concerns stemming from recent cuts to the Nuneaton fire service, emphasizing the importance of health and safety. Remaining Concerns Despite the proposed projects, some plans have been amended or scrapped. For instance, an inflatable park at Grayson Place has been dropped. The current library in Vicarage Street is slated for demolition as part of the Justice Walk development. Transforming Nuneaton Projects * Grayson Place: * Phase 1: Hampton by Hilton hotel on the former Co-op car park * Phase 2: Surface-level car park, cinema, glass-fronted food hall, refurbished India Red pub * Demolished parts of Co-op to be replaced with a digital skills center and bistro by North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College * Bridge to Living: * Project scaled back, new retail space dropped * New riverside apartments still planned * Justice Walk: * New library, offices, and up to 65 homes * Demolition of current library, Powell House building, former Wilko store, and former Royal Mail delivery office

Nuneaton’s council leader says he is ‘not 100 per cent happy’ with the huge plans to transform the town centre as he raises ‘safety concerns’. So much so that after being asked to ‘get on with the job’, Councillor Chris Watkins point blank refused.

There are three major regeneration projects planned in the town centre – ‘Grayson Place’ in Abbey Street, ‘Bridge to Living’ in Bridge Street and also the ‘Justice Walk’ development in the Vicarage Street area, which is being led by Warwickshire County Council . Millions of pounds in government funding has been given to the projects.

But Cllr Jeff Clarke raised concerns at a full council meeting that the funding could be lost if the plans are not forged ahead with now, following reports of a second look at some of the plans for Grayson Place.

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“Will the leader of the council just get on with the job of transforming Nuneaton instead of trying to promise the earth and deliver nothing,” Cllr Clarke said.

But the council leader responded, saying: “No, I will not just get on with the job until I am 100 per cent happy with everything that has been planned for the site. Following savage cuts made to the Nuneaton fire service by the Tory administration, we (Labour) take health and safety very seriously and I have raised some concerns with the designs that are being looked into at the moment.

“Until I am happy that the health and safety issue is resolved, I will not just get on with the job. We, as a Labour administration, take the safety of all of our residents and visitors to the borough very seriously.”