On Monday 1 December, Waltham Cross town centre re-opened following an extensive regeneration project backed by government funding.
The scheme was designed with input from members of the public to make the area a better place to live, work and visit.
As part of the wider renaissance programme, the area has also seen extensive improvements to other key community spaces including the recently upgraded Waltham Cross Playing Fields, which now features a fully refurbished Sports Pavillion. In the town centre, the Community Skills Hub was also given funding for essential upgrades that have better equipped the facility to support businesses and boost career opportunities for local residents. As part of this major programme, attention was also given to the environment with the installation of a 200 square metre living green wall, featuring 6,500 plants that will naturally help to improve air quality with the extraction of a total of 460kg of CO2 per year.
The reopening of the new town centre has brought along several improvements including additional landscaped areas and greenery with sustainable drainage features, more social spaces for visitors to enjoy (pocket parks), bicycle stands, new lighting and street furniture; improved access, including new pedestrian crossings at Monarchs Way and a new shared cycle path. There is now one-way vehicle access running through the town centre, along with additional on-street parking spaces.
The new one-way vehicular access will operate from Eleanor Cross Road through the High Street to Monarchs Way between 7pm-7am, and from Park Lane through to Monarchs Way 24 hours a day, except on market days on Wednesdays and Fridays when access will not be permitted from 7am-7pm.
Councillor Steve Wortley, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Growth (Deputy Leader) said:
It is a real breath of fresh air to walk through Waltham Cross town centre and see how far it has come in just over a year. The improvements are not just limited to the physical changes that have taken place but also to the future opportunities this newly improved location will benefit from. I am looking forward to seeing the positive impacts on the business landscape, visitor footfall and subsequent opportunities for residents.
I know that the past 14 months has seen some disruption for local businesses and residents and I would like to thank them for their support and patience throughout this project.
Minor works activity will continue to take place in the town centre over the coming weeks for finishing touches in designated areas.
An official opening event for the new town centre is planned in the New Year, where members of the public, local dignitaries and project partners will come together to celebrate the completion of the regeneration project. Further details about the event will be communicated on the Council’s poster and digital boards, website and social media platforms closer to the time.