A FURTHER £40,000 of city centre improvements has been announced by Gloucester City Council – and the council is cracking on with the work.
The money had been allocated for the replacement of the railway station boundary wall with railings but council bosses decided it was a 'considerable sum with limited additional benefit'.
The money will instead by put back into a pot which started out as a £2million windfall from the sale of land at St Oswald's to make way for the Tesco store.
A new programme of improvements across the city centre has been announced:– 20 new seagull proof litter bins at Longsmith Street, Kings Walk and Eastgate rooftop car parks by May.– Improved lighting along Hampden Way from early summer.– Improved ventilation and decoration to stairwells at Kings Walk car park and new lighting at the Eastgate rooftop car park.
Celebrating the city's heritage features highly in the works.
The historic clock and figures at GA Bakers and Sons, in Southgate Street, have this week been removed for repair and cleaning.
Historic buildings are also being lit up to show them off at night.
St Nicholas Church, in Westgate Street, a medieval church built for merchant traders, is set to benefit.
The city landmark was situated beside the now vanished west gate to the city.
The Grade-I listed building, which has been redundant since 1971, is known for its leaning, truncated white stone spire which was damaged by a direct hit by Royalist troops during the Siege of Gloucester in 1643.
Work on the former church will begin this week and is due to be completed in autumn 2014.
Councillor Paul James, leader of Gloucester City Council said: "I'm really pleased the city centre investment fund is being used for such a wide range of projects across all of our four gate streets.
"This project will not only help to illuminate Westgate Street by night, but will encourage residents and visitors to really appreciate their surroundings."
Since 1971, the church has been owned and maintained by the Churches Conservation Trust and is still used for tours and as a meeting venue.
Stonework repairs are about to start at St Michael's Tower, on the Cross, at a cost of £100,000 and the work will be complete by July. Lights will then be installed to show off the building in all its grandeur.
Retiring councillor Fred Wood, cabinet member for performance and resources, said: "There is a lot of heritage here and we will not shy away from doing what we can to focus on it."
Councillor Colin Organ, cabinet member for housing, added: "It makes me proud to be a citizen of Gloucester."
