Work to regenerate the centre of Ashton-in-Makerfield is set to continue into 2027, with a councillor expressing frustration over delays to the £6.6m local regeneration fund project.
Since February, businesses and shoppers have faced extensive disruption as the project creates a new public square and market area, alongside complementary road and public realm work in the centre. Visitors have experienced diverted footpaths and restricted access throughout the works.
Gerard Street to reopen before Christmas
Gerard Street has been one-way for traffic since February but is set to return to two-way traffic before Christmas. When work began, Wigan council estimated the project would take 10 months.
Councillor Danny Fletcher has now given an update on when the works are expected to be finished. He said he was 'not going to sugar-coat' his frustration that work on the public square would be going on into 2027.
He said: "I've had updates today on regeneration completion dates for Ashton centre. Gerard Street confirmed completion is December, meaning we'll finally be back to normal two way traffic before Christmas. Market Square, work here is going to run into the new year.
Market Square work delayed
"I'm still waiting on exact time scales for this one, but I'll update as soon as we know more. I'm not going to sugar-coat it, I'm not happy about the extension on the market area at all.
"We've all been pushing hard for weeks on this to get it sorted as fast as possible. But they will have Gerard Street fully boxed off and back to normal before Christmas."
Bethell was appointed by the council to deliver the improved active travel and road infrastructure upgrades in Ashton.
Project scope
Work within the project includes upgrades to Albert Street and Garswood Street car parks, improvements at the Bryn Street South crossing, off-path work between Townfields and Old Road, a new pedestrian crossing at Bryn Street South and gas pipe upgrades along Gerard Street.
Shopfront and façade improvements along Garswood Street and Gerard Street form part of the funding, with grants awarded to interested businesses.
