There have been calls to eliminate car parking on Bolton's Le Mans Crescent in order to create a public open space. The crescent's remarkable architecture was recently described at a full council meeting as the 'most spectacular part of the town centre', with opposition leader Martyn Cox stating it was 'not best served using it as just a car park'.
Constructed in the late 1930s, Le Mans Crescent, located immediately south of the town hall, is home to the borough's central library, museum and aquarium. Part of it previously functioned as a magistrates' court and police station, with numerous detention cells still inside the building.
In recent years, it has provided an atmospheric backdrop for several television dramas and films including Peaky Blinders, Happy Valley and The Reckoning, contributing to Bolton's reputation as the 'Hollywood of the north'. Currently, both sides of the crescent are used for kerbside short-stay car parking.
Conservative leader Martyn Cox urged councillors to make more use of the buildings and the adjoining curved, cobbled roads. He said: "For the first time I feel we're getting a feel for what town centre regeneration can look like."
"People are beginning to see a transformed Bolton town centre. "I always feel there's a piece of the jigsaw that we haven't got done, reports .
"I think Le Mans Crescent is the jewel in our crown. It's the most spectacular part of the town centre and probably the most attractive architectural space in the north west."
"I believe that using this space as a car park is a missed opportunity. It would be great as open public space to do a variety of things in. I feel it would complete this part of the town centre.
"It's a perfect backdrop and recently there's been more filming going on there than in Hollywood."
Cabinet member Akhtar Zaman, said 'these are good ideas, we will explore them'. He added: "These are buildings we definitely want to celebrate."
"I have asked the officer team to produce a report to consider how best to activate key spaces in the town centre. "We will explore new ways to use Le Mans Crescent."
Coun Zaman added that work on lighting improvements on Le Mans Crescent will start early next year. He said: "The work will bring to life its architecture and grandeur and better illuminate this stunning asset."
In 2019, Bolton was successfully offered up to £22.9m of funding from the central government's Towns Fund to help regenerate nearby Cheadle Square.
Projects completed include the redevelopment of Wellspring into a business hub, the refurbishment of Bolton Market, improvements to the library and museum and a substantial investment to public realm in Cheadle Square and Ashburner Street.
The former bus station site on Moor Lane, located behind Le Mans Crescent, is currently undergoing a transformation into a bustling town centre community. The development will feature four apartment blocks and rows of three-storey townhouses.
Additionally, it will create a clear pedestrian pathway linking the town hall, Le Mans Crescent and Queens Park.
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