Rossendale 

Rossendale is one of the four districts to benefit from the Levelling Up East Lancashire programme. 

Lancashire County Council has been working closely with local communities and stakeholders in Rossendale to develop the plans for the area, and thanks everyone who has been involved. 

Rossendale will benefit from three connected projects as part of the programme: 

• Safer, Greener, Healthier Streets. 

• Accessible and Vibrant Town Centres. 

• Public Transport Improvements. 

Safer, Greener, Healthier Streets  

The Safer, Greener, Healthier Streets project in Rossendale will provide improvements to local streets which aim to make travel easier between homes, jobs, shops and services, and help make streets safer and more accessible for everyone.  

For more detailed information about Rossendale’s Safer, Greener, Healthier Streets project click here: Hall Carr, Rossendale - Safer, Greener, and Healthier Streets project 

Accessible and Vibrant Town Centres 

In Rossendale improvements through the Accessible and Vibrant Town Centre (AVTC) project are planned for Bank Street in Rawtenstall. 

The project aims to enhance public spaces and improve experiences in the town centre, making it a more attractive and accessible place to spend time in, shop, and enjoy.    

We received request for changes to the proposals for the Bank Street AVTC project and made a number of changes to the plans to accommodate these where possible.  

As a result of the feedback received and what people told us, the plans for the one-way system on Kay Street have been amended. Other changes made in response to feedback include removing the proposed No Right Turn on Newchurch Road, and removing proposed cycle lanes on Bank Street to maintain parking availability.  

You can see more detailed information about the proposals for the Rawtenstall Accessible and Vibrant Town Centre project, including how plans have changed in response to feedback, here:  Bank Street, Rawtenstall - Accessible and Vibrant Town Centre project  

Linking to local plans – Rawtenstall Masterplan 

The projects being delivered as part of the Levelling Up East Lancashire programme are designed to support and compliment local improvement plans. 

The projects in Rossendale have been developed closely and in collaboration with  Rossendale Borough Council.  The Bank Street AVTC project forms part of plans to make Rawtenstall a more welcoming and better connected place. Improvements are being delivered in partnership by Rossendale Borough Council and Lancashire County Council with funding from UK Government through a number of co-ordinated projects including the Rawtenstall Gyratory projects, bus service improvement plans, and Levelling Up. All of the plans are linked and developed through the Rawtenstall Masterplan. 

The changes are all designed to support plans for the area and improve the lives of people who live and work there. Once complete, the changes will mean: 

• Getting around the area will be easier, safer and more convenient for everyone. 

• Safer crossings and footpaths, and more welcoming and accessible spaces for people in Rawtenstall town centre, making it safer to move around and access different shops and services. 

• Less time spent waiting at traffic lights and less congestion through changes to road layout and upgraded smarter traffic signal technology. 

• More reliable bus journeys. 

More information about the plans, and how they were developed and agreed, is available online at Rawtenstall Masterplan | Rawtenstall Projects | Rossendale Borough Council 

Public Transport Improvements  

The Levelling Up East Lancashire programme includes projects to deliver a range public transport improvements which aim to make public transport faster and more reliable to help people to be able to access work, education, shops, services and green spaces. The project will improve journeys and everyday life for people in Rossendale and across the rest of the county.  

The Public Transport Improvements projects will provide: 

• Real time passenger information to help plan journeys 

• Upgraded traffic signal technology to improve bus journey times 

• Accessibility improvements at bus stops 

For more information on the plans to improve public transport, click here: Public Transport Improvements. 

How we developed the plans Rossendale

Since autumn 2023 we've worked together with the local community to develop the final proposals for the Levelling Up East Lancashire programme. The insights from these activities helped us shape and improve plans to deliver schemes that matter most to local people. 

We worked with local stakeholders and communities to co-design initial plans. We then carried out wider engagement, including workshops and route visits, to understand local community priorities for the proposed interventions.   

In summer 2024 we shared plans over 6 weeks to gather feedback from a wide range of stakeholders, including local residents, businesses, and community groups. We explained the designs on a dedicated website, held in-person events, and sent postcard invites to local residents and businesses to ask for their views.  

We used the feedback received and findings of the survey to make changes,  address any concerns where possible, and improve plans. 

As a result of working with and listening to local communities, the proposals for each area are tailored to what people have told us is important to them.