A MULTI-MILLION- pound scheme to improve Heckmondwike town centre has been given the go-ahead.
The move, deemed the ‘icing on the cake’ of a massive regeneration scheme for the town, will see £5.8m spent on a state-of-the-art library and information centre and also a bus centre to help improve the town’s transport links.
The plan has just been approved by Kirklees Council’s Cabinet.
The council will be pumping £5m into the project earmarked for Northgate, with West Yorkshire passenger transport watchdog Metro investing £850,000 in the bus centre.
Also, a new health centre is planned on Firth Street.
The latest cash boost brings the total planned investment in the transformation of the town, known as the Heckmondwike Revival drive, to £11m.
Over the last three years the town’s regeneration has been a key priority for the council and there have been a number of projects to boost the town.
These include a grants scheme to improve shop fronts, investment in roads and pavements, improved conditions for pedestrians and shoppers and better public spaces and parks.
Innovative projects such as street art and community projects and events have also played a big part in ‘lifting’ the town and making it a more attractive and popular place to live in.
Council leader Robert Light said the new improvements will be another big boost to the town.
The council will be putting wider details of the project out for public consultation over the coming months. Work on the project is expected to start next autumn and be finished by the end of 2010.
The public are invited to consultation sessions about the library and information centre at the market next Tuesday and at the present library on November 4 and 12.
