9944 BIGGAR TOWN CENTRE PROJECT
This 1999 nomination is by South Lanarkshire Council for the Biggar Town Centre Project. It is nominated as a high quality town centre improvement scheme achieved through a partnership between the local community and the local authority. It demonstrates the benefits of a multi-disciplinary approach to a project. It shows how issues highlighted in local plans can be progressed in meaningful projects that can address and resolve planning issues. It provides a good example of utilising the benefits of partnership working to establish high quality project management. Procedures used to implement the Biggar Town Centre Project could be used as a model for similar projects in South Lanarkshire and could possibly benefit other Councils. This project demonstrates how public investment in the centres for the rural economy can act as a catalyst to attract private investment. Background: Biggar has been an important market centre for eastern rural Lanarkshire for many centuries. Recognition of its status as a formal settlement is directly Iinked to the Royal Charter of 1451. Biggar was also one of a number of important Burghs of Barony created in the latter half of the fifteenth century to allow certain privileges and trading rights. The appearance of the High Street is still heavily influenced by medieval land ownership patterns with narrow, frontages, closes and vennels. Biggar's economy has diversified from its market town origins into one that is now principally driven by the tourism industry. Its unique selling point and employment base derives from a combination of its history and specialist tourist retailing. The town boasts several tourist attractions, many of which have been granted tourist awards, including a 'Tourism Oscar'. 
Biggar was also recently appointed as Scotland's most polite town by the Polite Society. The historic centre of Biggar is deservedly designated an Outstanding Conservation Area with 103 listed buildings. However like other towns, Biggar has had to deal with increased traffic, parking and environmental problems. The A705 trunk road which forms the High Street was poorly defined and of varying width. In addition the surface of the footways and parking areas between the trunk road and the building line was in extremely poor condition. These factors created an inhospitable environment for pedestrians, which was detrimental to the town's commercial and tourism potential. The project was launched in March 1996 with objectives to: · Provide an environment which meets the needs and aspirations of the Biggar Community, · Retain and enhance the character of the town, · Improve the tourist and commercial potential of the town, · Improve road safety, · Provide a streetscape which caters for street events, · Upgrade surfaced areas between the buildings on both sides of the High Street, and · Improve on and off street parking. To ensure the project met the needs of the local community a working group was established. Chaired by the local elected member it comprised representatives of Biggar Community Council, Biggar Business Group, Biggar and District Civic Society and South Lanarkshire Council. The group consulted with other bodies including: Biggar in Bloom, Biggar Auction Market, the Post Office, British Legion, Biggar Museum Trust and Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority. This partnership arrangement was extremely successful and produced a scheme which met the requirements of the local community and which has the benefit of ownership and support by the main community groups. A further key component of partnership was the effective engagement of the public. This was achieved by a leaflet drop to every household in Biggar, a public exhibition for one week, use of an electronic opinionmeter, and a questionnaire. Dramatic transformation of the streetscape was achieved by a series of measures to · upgrade all surfaces using high quality materials including Caithness Stone, · redefine the relationship between the buildings, pedestrian areas and roads, · provide a gateway to the town through traffic calming measures, · provide ornamental landscape to complement the hard works, · provide scheme specific lighting columns and street furniture of high aesthetic quality, · clearly define side roads and pedestrian areas by different surface treatments, · provide open street spaces to cater for local events, including Biggar's renowned Ne'erday High Street bonfire and the annual street fair, · reduce the width of the trunk road through the town and improve pedestrian crossing facilities, · formalise loading bays and disabled parking, · provide bus and coach parking, · rationalise bus stops and cater for bus movements. High quality of street parking will be provided at the cattle market. Traffic calming was an important element of the scheme. The trunk road varied in width throughout the town centre and in places was 12m wide. The road has been reduced to a uniform 7.3m wide and gateways have been introduced on the approaches to the town centre. In addition, the widening of footways, the use of different surface treatments and the formalisation of on street parking has created a much safer and pleasant environment for pedestrians. As well as the immediate benefits of a significantly enhanced and safer environment this project has been instrumental in attracting investment. The Cattle Market site, which covers 4.3 hectares, will include industrial retail residential and leisure uses and is expected to create 400 jobs and four new businesses. This assists the diversification of the rural economy and is held up as an excellent example of sustainable development. The project has been a resounding success for the local Community and South Lanarkshire Council. The enthusiasm and commitment shown by the partnership has produced a scheme which will play a major role in protecting the town's heritage; the cornerstone of economic success.
The judges sought a presentation on this nomination and visited Biggar. They found this example of town centre improvements carried out along a trunk road of especial interest, and noted many features of signage and surface treatment to commend. They were very impressed with the degree of local involvement and with the evidence they found of implementation sensitive to local requirements and preferences. With significant inputs from the Council planning service, and the support for quality solutions by transport engineers, the quality of space and safety for Biggar town centre users has been much improved. The judges are delighted to recommend a 1999 Commendation in this category for the Biggar Town Centre Project.