Temple Street improvement project to start in the New Year
B&NES Council say it's part of the Keynsham High Street Heritage Action Zone Programme
Last updated 9th Jun 2024
Temple Street in Keynsham is set to see works starting in the new year - featuring with new paving, planting, cycle parking and better disabled parking.
Following a consultation led by Bath & North East Somerset Council, public feedback has informed changes to the original design which now retain more car parking spaces whilst also providing more greening and cycle parking.
Starting on the second Monday of the year (January 9), materials will start to be delivered, before the projects fully gets going.
In the project, pavements made of natural stone will start to be laid on the west side of the street, as well as upgraded lighting and drainage, increasing the pavement width and improved disabled parking bays to meet modern standards.
New planters and parklets will also be installed to increase greenery on the Riverside development side of the street, along with new seating and cycle parking as part of the scheme.
The changes to car parking consists of two large bays being altered on the east side of the street to introduce additional seating and greening, which B&NES Council are installing on a trial basis.
Looking to the western side of the street, 8.4m of parking will be altered to extend the size of disabled car parking bays, making them compliant with modern standards, and for get ready for a new pedestrian crossing to be installed as part of a future phase of the project.
Works are being carried out by the council’s highways contractor Volker and are expected to be completed in May 2023.
The project is all part of the Keynsham High Street Heritage Action Zone Programme (HS HAZ), and is funded by Historic England with match funding from Bath & North East Somerset Council and Keynsham Town Council.
Councillor Mark Roper, cabinet member for Economic Development, Regeneration and Growth, said: “I’m pleased that we will shortly be beginning this important scheme to improve the whole environment of Temple Street for everyone who visits, works at or lives in the area. We are grateful to the many people who took the time to respond to our consultation last year. We have listened to the feedback and acted on it to change the final design, which means keeping more car parking spaces and providing more greenery. We apologise for any disruption during the works and we are working with our contractor to keep this to a minimum.”
To support local businesses in Keynsham, in early 2023 a new Keynsham Town Centre Business Directory will be launched.
Councillor Andy Wait, chair of Keynsham Town Council, said: “The steering group for the Temple Street improvements have listened very carefully to all who have taken part in the consultation around this work. It is an impossible task to satisfy all requirements. We have had many serious discussions and are confident that we are close as we can be to the best compromise. I believe that most people will enjoy the extra facilities and freedoms the new space will offer and look forward to seeing the plan reach fruition.”
Rebecca Barrett, Regional Director at Historic England, said: “We’re delighted that the improvements to Temple Street will be starting in January, delivering positive changes we know local people are keen to see. Well done to all involved in reaching this major milestone in the Keynsham High Street Heritage Action Zone.”
For more information on the improvement project click here.