By Lauren Maughan

Last updated at 13:28, Thursday, 26 July 2012

Footpaths connecting the New Squares development in Penrith to the rest of the town centre are now under construction.

It is hoped the new improvements will encourage visitors and residents alike to use the town centre shops and services as well as the New Squares area.

Sainsbury’s supermarket, which opened in the new development in November last year, is the driving force behind the new footpaths.

Jonathan Rawnsley, Sainsbury’s project manager, said: “Our contractors are currently working on repaving Angel Square, which was one of our commitments in bringing forward the New Squares scheme. We will have finished the repaving by August 4.

“At the same time we have been upgrading the highway and widening the pavement towards Great Dockray. We needed to close Prices Street while this work took place, but we were pleased to reopen the road on Sunday.”

Mr Rawnsley explained that work is on schedule and the next milestone will be in late autumn, when the new retail link will open between the Sainsbury’s store and the town centre.

The New Squares development has been dogged by controversy after work that originally began on 2008 was halted when National Australia Bank withdrew funding, leaving the north end of the town an unfinished building site.

Dozens of protestors also took to the streets in 2009, with organiser Derek Hurton saying that the the scheme was “inappropriate for Penrith”.

Despite several revised proposals,the building work kick started again in March 2011 when Sainsbury’s agreed to complete the scheme.

John Thompson, Penrith West councillor and chairman of the planning committee for New Squares, said: “The whole complex has greatly improved the area. We are looking forward to a bright future for Penrith. The town has hardly any empty shops and is bustling.

“The new widened footpaths mean people can easily access the north end of the town. A lot of hard work has gone on behind the scenes."

Mr Thompson also said he didn’t see there being any hold-ups to the plans

Once completed the project will have created an extra 93,000 sq ft of retail space, at least 85 new homes, and improvements to Wetheriggs Country Park, near Penrith.

First published at 11:28, Thursday, 26 July 2012
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk