Long Eaton revamp: Drop in for a preview on 13th May

An artist's impression of how Long Eaton Market Place could look...

Erewash residents are being invited to see how their town will start to undergo a dramatic transformation from early next month – as the borough council stages an exhibition about the huge £10million regeneration project.

The afternoon preview at Long Eaton Town Hall on Wednesday 13th May is being billed as a drop-in event for local people to get the full lowdown ahead of work getting underway in June.

Plans and artist impressions will be available to view from 2pm to 4pm – showing how Long Eaton’s High Street will be turned into a vibrant destination for shopping and leisure. The work, which also encompasses Tamworth Road, is scheduled to be completed in spring next year.

Residents and visitors can look forward to a greener and more welcoming town centre with smart new paving and places for people to relax. It comes a quarter of a century after the borough’s other main town of Ilkeston underwent a similarly spectacular makeover.

The showcase project is thanks to Government regeneration funding as part of the £25million Long Eaton Town Deal. The investment has fuelled a string of projects including two new canal bridges – one of which is almost complete.

The town’s market will move back to its historic home – Long Eaton Market Place – to allow the revamp of the centre to take place. But contractors will be working closely with shops and businesses so they can open as usual.

Local businessman Richard Ledger, who is chair of the Long Eaton Town Deal Board, said: “We are thrilled to be giving local people a town centre they can be truly proud of. Our aim is to get it thriving again by encouraging more people to shop and spend time there – leading to new retail outlets opening.”

Cllr Curtis Howard, who is Erewash’s Lead Member for Planning and Regeneration, said: “Finally putting spades in the ground on the big High Street upgrade is a major step toward Long Eaton’s future. I want to stress that shops and businesses will continue to be open and accessible as usual while the work to transform our town centre takes place.”

Design elements for the new-look town centre include references to Long Eaton’s history, including its furniture industry.

There will also be a salute to Long Eaton being the birthplace of one of the 20^th century’s most acclaimed artists – Dame Laura Knight. Her masterpieces include photo realistic World War Two depictions of women working on the home front in munitions factories.

Dame Laura died in 1970 at the age of 92 after becoming the first female painter to be admitted to the prestigious Royal Academy since its founding in 1769.

Online information about how Long Eaton is being boosted by the regeneration funding can be found here: www.longeatontowndeal.org.

There will be an opportunity to meet some of those involved in the town centre project – including representatives from contractors Galliford Try – at the drop-in event on 13th May. Residents are being advised that during the revamp:

• Blue badge access and parking on the High Street will be suspended while work takes place.
• New blue badge parking has been provided in the Beaconsfield car park and the one in Claye Street.
• Tamworth Road will remain open during the works – although lanes will be narrowed or made one-way.