Ambitious plans to transform a main shopping street in Burton town centre have been unveiled.

The stunning new images show for the first time what Station Street could look like as part of a major facelift which is hoped will attract new investment from businesses and property owners.

East Staffordshire Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council has now revealed what the street, home to businesses like Subway and McDonald's, could look like as part of the Burton Town Regeneration Programme. There are two options on the table as part of the scheme which are being considered.

The scheme includes ambitious plans to significantly regenerate the pedestrianised area of Station Street. This could include raised flowerbeds, as well as a meandering footpath for the public.

The changes would also mean that any trade or refuge vehicles will have to abide by a one-way restriction.

A beer barrel could be installed in a nod to Burton's brewing heritage

The project would also see large pebble-shaped seats installed to provide more seating for the public. Plans could include a large fountain - in a nod to Burton's relationship with water and the River Trent. There is also a suggestion to install a six-metre high structure taking the form of a beer barrel to celebrate the town's brewing heritage, which shoppers would be able to walk under.

The designs were revealed for the first time at a consultation event with members of the borough council at Burton Town Hall.

While the designs are still in the draft stages, there are two options on the table for Station Street.

Option one:

A one-way only vehicle route will be created from High Street to Worthington Way. This would be offset to one side and would switch from one side to the other to reduce vehicle speed.

There would be planted beds of shrubs to soften the street and add seasonal variation, it says in the draft. There would also be wide bands of contrasting paving cut across the full width of the street, at an angle, to break up the surfacing and act as a visual warning to slow down the traffic.

The water feature

Option two:

This scheme adopts a more "sinuous" form, in reference to the nearby River Trent. The vehicle route meanders gently up the street, with feature pebble-shaped benches on either side. To reinforce the theme, pebble-shaped planting beds would straddle the area and help to break up the street scene. There would also be space for cafes to put out seating.

Councillor Julia Jessel, the borough council's deputy leader for regeneration, said: "We want to create an area that people want to socialise in, use and go shopping.

"Burton has been very reliant on its relationship with water and we want to create an ambience that people would want to come and sit in.

"We will have raised beds, seating or huge pebbles to sit on."

Councillor Jessel admitted the plans don't come without constraints though, saying: "Some premises don't have rear access for refuge and service vehicles so we have to allow for them.

"The existing underground pipes are very shallow and to avoid the high cost of service diversions, it is proposed to create raised planters."

Station Street option 1

She added: "[What we have now] is pretty drab. so I hope the public will go 'wow'. But we can't please everyone. There will be some people who say they don't like that but we hope it will receive a positive response."

A council spokesman has said it can not yet provide approximate costs as there may be drastic changes made to the designs as a result of any consulrations.

In a design document, it said in a recent survey Burton was identified as having one of the lowest tree densities of any town in the country. This is despite the town being in the National Forest.

The document said of the Station Street plans: "From the outset, the scheme has been designed to dramatically increase the number of street trees and reflect the National Forest location. The final number and location of the trees is dependent on the underground services. An underground scanning survey is proposed and this will enable the final tree positions to be confirmed accurately."

The document added that the water feature proposed 'reflects the importance of Burton within the National Forest. The sound of water helps to create tranquillity and drowns out unwanted noise.'

Station Street option 2

It also said that the proposed beer barrel structure could include several timber staves bolted to a large metal band. The band would approximately be six metres high, so delivery vehicles could freely pass through it.

The staves would be positioned over three metres from the ground to deter vandalism. too

The regeneration programme, which launched in February 2017, is focused on improving the appeal of Burton to residents, visitors and businesses.

Projects already launched include improvements to the town's memorial, remembrance and abbot's gardens, adapted flows of traffic on Cooper's Square shopping centre car park, the re-timing of traffic lights to reduce congestion on Union Street, and the installation of new contactless car parking payment machines on three of its main car parks along with repairs to artwork situated in and around Burton.

What do local people think of the plans?

Local businesses are backing a revamp of Burton's Station Street, after pictures of the plans were unveiled.

Harindr Singh, owner of HS Vape in Station Street, liked the plans and said: "I think it looks good. I think it will be good for the people who shop in Burton as well as the businesses.

"I hope it will see more people coming in to Burton and help out the local businesses to get more customers in the doors."

Emily Cottingham, a sales assistant at Yum Yums sweet shop, said: "I think the street needs more greenery so I like this idea. It's all quite old and a bit outdated so it definitely needs a revamp. I really like the designs and hope they will go through."

Meanwhile, Deborah Brown, owner of B and B Catering van in Station Street said: "I like those designs. It looks like there will be a lot more flowers and greenery which would be nice. The plans are much better looking than what it is now. I only hope there is still room for us in the van!"

What Station Street may look like

However, a spokesman for Cassandra's cafe, who did not wish to be named, said: "I think the designs are nice but I don't think it will encourage more people into the town. The big issue in Station Street is the drainage; sometimes the road absolutely stinks, so people will still avoid it. A couple of flowers isn't going to change that.

"I like the plans but I think there are better things to spend the money on, and I think the councils should be supporting local businesses who are struggling."

Shopper Martin Benson, 44, from Winshill, said: "I like the idea. The town centre deserves a much needed pick me up and hopefully it’ll attract more shops back to the Burton high street. I think the next thing we need is free parking or a multi-storey car park to get people back into the town."

Pete Deaville, from Burton, added: "It definitely needs something doing to regenerate the street. I'd like to see them do something that will tie in with the buildings that are here. If you look up you can see some of the beautiful buildings and it would be nice to keep that."

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