Rossendale Borough Council said the new town square in Waterfoot will act as a pilot scheme for activity and engagement, giving people the opportunity to trial ideas, monitor usage, and help inform potential permanent features for the future.
Plans include an expansion to the small park with a dedicated community space featuring a platform and a long table, alongside locally commissioned artworks including murals, fence panels, and mosaics.
The council said the aim is to create a vibrant, community-focussed environment.
Work is scheduled to begin at the end of October, with further improvement plans for the refurbishment of a shop unit in Trickett’s Arcade later this year.
The initiatives form part of the council’s longer-term Waterfoot Masterplan, with future activities developed in partnership with local arts organisation Horse and Bamboo and the Waterfoot Arts Group.
The projects aim to strengthen the town’s identity and encourage more people to visit, explore, and spend time in the area.
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Cllr Nick Harris, lead member for economic development, said: “We are thrilled to bring this exciting new space to Waterfoot.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to celebrate local creativity, provide a hub for community activity, and trial new ideas that could shape the future of our town centre.
” So many residents told us in 2024 that they thought the bus turning circle is a wasted area and that they wanted a civic space to act as the heart of Waterfoot.
“This is exactly what we are trialling, with an aim to explore this as a more permanent feature, as and when external funding becomes available.”
Preparatory works for the refitting of the Tricketts Arcade shop, including trimming overgrown branches and safely removing diseased trees, will take place from Monday, October 6, to Thursday, October 9.
