Residents and businesses have welcomed a town centre transformation that hopes to drive future investment and increase the number of visitors to the area.
A series of upgrades have been made to the east side of Low Street, in Sherburn-in-Elmet, in a bid to create a more attractive and welcoming town centre.
The area’s appearance was previously plagued by issues including poor surfacing, damaged cobbles, discoloured pavements, broken street furniture and blocked gullies.
The surfacing has now been upgraded using higher-quality materials, a series of new parking bays have been created, and new public benches have been installed along with improved signage, real-time bus information displays and a town centre map.
The renovation work, which focused on areas between The Swan pub and C&G Starkey Family Butchers, started in February and were completed this month.
Executive member for open to business, Cllr Mark Crane, whose responsibilities include economic development and regeneration, said: “The aim of this project was to make the town a more attractive environment for those who live, work and visit.
“We spoke with a number of residents and businesses, and they identified a number of issues that were adversely affecting the town’s overall appearance. They ranged from parking spaces not being clearly marked to uneven surfaces and broken street furniture.
“It is great to see the finished result, and we hope that by making the town a more appealing and exciting high street hub, it can help local businesses thrive and attract more visitors to the area.
“I would like to thank everyone who lives and works in the town for their patience and cooperation while the works were completed.”
Jonathan France has owned fish and chip shop The Fish Bank, on Low Street, since 2019 and believes the improvements will make a big difference for the town.
He said: “We are all proud of the classic, traditional high street that we have in Sherburn-in-Elmet which offers a lot for residents and visitors.
“It’s always bustling, always busy – and you can get everything you want right here without driving out of the town to other areas. But the high street has looked a bit tired in recent years and in need of some attention.
“I’ve always said I’d support anything that makes the town more attractive for those who live, work and visit – and I’m really pleased with the improvements that have been made.
“The new surfacing, parking bays, benches and signage are all small things that can make a big difference in making Sherburn-in-Elmet a more welcoming place for all.”
Funding of up to £800,000 was allocated to deliver the package of improvements to the town, which was financed in part by the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
Council leader, Cllr Carl Les, who was chair of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund local partnership group in the county, said: “We are delighted with the feedback from residents and businesses who are rightly proud and passionate about their high street.
“We hope the improvements and the enhanced environment can help encourage more people to visit Sherburn-in-Elmet and take advantage of the fantastic shops and facilities on offer in the town.”
The transformation, which was supported by Sherburn-in-Elmet Town Council, was designed by a team of architects and engineers at the council’s award-winning property consultancy, Align Property Partners.
Cllr Bob Packham, the local member for the Sherburn-in-Elmet division, who lives in the town, added: “We have a dynamic town centre with excellent businesses serving our growing population. I want people to continue to shop in Sherburn-in-Elmet and support our local shops.
“The works carried out in Low Street will make for a better shopping experience, improving accessibility and parking. The new real time bus information is a real bonus for travellers and the town map and finger boards that will direct people around the town will be a great help for visitors.
“I would like to thank officers at the council, Align Property Partners, Sherburn-in-Elmet Town Council and contractors PBS Construction for the high standard of their work.”