WHEN the pedestrianisation of Bank Street, Highweek Way and Wolborough Street, Newton Abbot, comes on stream to encourage shoppers into the town from the new Asda store, the street furniture is to have a railway theme. Frome artist Peter Osborne has come up with design concepts to keep it in line with the town's proud railway heritage. A portfolio of some of his designs and art work sketches for benches, seats and bollards, using railway lines and engine wheels as the theme, were shown to Newton Abbot Town Council Planning Committee on Tuesday. Alan Stone, Devon County Council's urban design manager, said part and parcel of the consent for the Asda store was that work was undertaken to integrate the new store and the town centre. He said there had been a public consultation, a series of meetings and stakeholders meetings, to see what changes could be undertaken. Highweek Way would close to through traffic allowing service vehicles and buses access, while Bank Street would be for service vehicles with deliveries up to 10am and after 4pm, and Wolborough Street would also be pedestrianised between St Leonard's Tower and the Newfoundland Way roundabout. 'We want to see the frontage in Wolborough Street developed and Austins is looking at the feasibility of extending its premises. 'There is the Seymour Horwell site and the Pascoe and Gill area, where discussions are still taking place for new developments. 'What we are looking to do is to improve the quality of footways with pedestrian space, improve the landscaping and have more of a cafe culture around that space,' said Mr Stone. Suggestions though that the iron gates at the St Leonard's Tower end of Courtenay Street should be moved to the entrance off East Street, did not go down well with councillors who believed if they were moved they should be placed at the beginning of Bank Street. The pedestrianisation work and street furniture will be phased in over three years, with Wolborough Street last on the list. Mr Stone said there was an obligation of planning consent that Highweek Way has to be completed before the opening of the Asda store. In the space at the Newfoundland Way end of Wolborough Street, the town council is hoping there will be a bandstand or other major feature. Cllr Geraldine Gaskell said that would tidy up a grotty area. And referring to the whole scheme she said: 'We are looking at making the area more attractive because it is the shop window of Newton Abbot'.
