Borough Council promising work to be completed for August 19
THE MARKET PLACE regeneration project is now in its final countdown with overnight works planned for this week as contractors race against the clock to get it finished, six months after the initial finish line.
And, despite a mountain to climb before the new deadline, the council is insisting that it will be complete by Sunday.
It also says that a planned four-week closure of Broad Street will now be reduced to just a week, meaning that the town centre roads will be fully reopen from the beginning of September.
Although it should have been finished six months ago, unforeseen problems under the road by Broad Street has delayed the £3.8 million project to modernise the area around Wokingham’s town hall.
When complete, it will see the area levelled to be more inclusive, and offer greater flexibility for events. It will also provide better utilities for the market and allow local cafés, restaurants and public houses to offer outdoor seating.
As we went to press on Wednesday, August 8, much of the York stone paving still had to installed on the footpaths around Denmark Street businesses and the final road surface needed to be laid along this section. There were also edges that needed to be finished around Market Place, particularly around the HSBC corner.
The way in which the new pavement and roads meet the existing ones also need work.
But Cllr Philip Mirfin, executive member for regeneration, said that the project will be finished at its new finish date, having previously promised July 25. He also admitted that the council’s contractors, Balfour Beatty, will still be seen around Market Place as they correct various snagging issues.
He told The Wokingham Paper: “As of Sunday, August 19, pedestrians will be able to freely move around Market Place and enjoy the new open space in the town centre.
“They may be aware of some final remedial works such as cleaning and sealing but this is natural at the end of a major construction project.
“It will not hinder them from using this space. Cleaning and sealing will take place during the following week (from Monday, August 20) and Denmark Street will reopen at midnight on Saturday, August 18.
“Balfour Beatty will hand over the site on Friday, August 31 and the Market Place scheme will be complete.”
The news that Broad Street will now only be closed for a week will come as a relief for motorists who, over the past year, have had to endure all kinds of delays and closures including Langborough Road.
Denmark Street is due to reopen on August 19, with Broad Street closing at the same time.
Cllr Mirfin said: “We announced last month our intention to close the section of Broad Street between Costa and Rose Street to through traffic for up to four weeks.
“We have been looking at options to see if there is an alternative. And I am pleased to say, we will now only close Broad Street for one week from August 19 to August 25.
“This work will be completed by the end of the month and the road fully opened before the end of the school holidays.”
But despite Cllr Mirfin’s promises, some people think that the project will struggle to hit this deadline.
Cllr Imogen Shepherd-DuBey, Liberal Democrat councillor for Emmbrook, said: “I would be surprised if it’s finished on time. The area outside the courtyard of the town hall may be ‘passable’, but will the whole project be finished? I don’t think so.
“I think Cllr Mirfin is putting pressure of Balfour Beattie and rightly so.”
But retailers are warning the council that they are still struggling.
Earlier this week, ITV Meridian Tonight featured the plight of shopkeepers including Wokingham Decor’s Mike Flint who said that his takings had been down around 40%.
“If we make it through this it will be a miracle,” he said.
The report also featured shoppers who said they now avoid coming in to Wokingham as a result of the works.
