New-look Preston street is finally complete as peace garden unveiled
The final finishing touch has been put to a facelift given to a major Preston street - almost three years after work began.
The transformation of Friargate North is now officially complete after the unveiling of a renovated peace garden on the once busy traffic route.
The road has now been pedestrianised between its radically revamped junction with Ringway and Heatley Street - having previously been one of the main bus thoroughfares in the city.
The refurbishment of the peace garden was marked with a short ceremony on Thursday and is the final piece of major work within the £14.7m project, which started in November 2021.
The aim of the scheme was to change the way people travel in and around Preston city centre by improving connections between the university quarter and the main shopping area - and making the area more attractive for residents and visitors alike.
Cllr Rupert Swarbrick, Lancashire County Council’s cabinet member for Highways and Transport, said: "This ambitious initiative, aimed at revitalising Preston's city centre, has now come to fruition, creating a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly space that encourages sustainable travel.
"We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the partners, engineers, and community members who contributed to this project and for your patience.
"This has been a massive undertaking that has brought many challenges that we have had to overcome, and its completion marks a significant milestone in Preston's history, and future."
Ahead of the International Day of Peace on Saturday, representatives from the county council, Preston City Council and the University of Central Lancashire came together at the site.
The Mayor of Preston, Cllr Phil Crowe, and Cllr Alf Clempson, vice chairman of Lancashire County Council, cut the ceremonial ribbon to officially mark the completion of the scheme.
They were joined by local artist Salina Somalya, who was commissioned for a special mural at the revitalised peace garden, which features poems and artwork etched into the concrete paving.
Salina was commissioned to create a central feature design that continued the link with the peace theme. The design had to include a dove motif to maintain the link with the site's history yet provide a fresh piece of artwork to rejuvenate the space.
Salina said: "My concept was to consider a motif of the dove/peace symbol that referenced back to the history of the site as well as represented the present and future people of Preston, illustrating how we can live in harmony with one another through our customs, celebrations and language.
"I wanted to implement a design that was sensitive to the diverse communities within Preston, expressive and celebratory.
"I'm chuffed to have been awarded this commission on my home turf and to have the opportunity to enjoy the Peace Garden with the rest of the Preston and wider communities."
A commemorative red plaque is also incorporated into the landscaping of the peace garden in memory of Mary Elizabeth Slater, a field nurse from Preston who served in the Spanish Civil war before returning to nursing in London during the blitz.
The plaque was originally unveiled in June 2018 by the Preston Historical Society. It was removed whilst the improvement works were carried out to keep it from being damaged and has now been reinstated into its rightful place.
Cllr Nweeda Khan, Cabinet Member for Communities and Social Justice at Preston City Council said: "Preston is proud of its status as a City of Sanctuary that welcomes refugees and asylum seekers from all over the world that need a safe haven from conflict and persecution. The Peace Garden is symbolic of the city’s commitment to our pledge to help and care for those in need and sends out a message of peace and hope to all our citizens.
“The garden is a restful corner of the busy city, a place where people can go for a few minutes of quiet reflection, or to take a few minutes to read the inspirational messages of hope and peace that are incorporated into the Peace Wall and are integral to the design of the Peace Garden.”
Claire Lowe, Strategic Development Lead at the University of Central Lancashire, added:
“Friargate North links our University to the city centre so it’s essential for our student population that this area is a safe, attractive and vibrant space. The project has delivered a street with a welcoming atmosphere and the Peace Garden perfectly complements this.”