Work's starting next month to make Ormskirk's Wheatsheaf Walk more attractive to visitors and shoppers, helping local businesses recover and thrive as COVID restrictions are eased.

But despite this good news, PR officers at the borough council have been assiduously avoiding answering questions from QLocal's Roger Blaxall about whether the purchase of the shopping area has represented value for money for local ratepayers after its purchase in summer 2016.

Borough Council buys £2.88 million Wheatsheaf Walks UPDATE (qlocal.co.uk)

The works will include laying new paving and seating as well as installing new lighting and removing planters and the pagoda, helping to make the shops more visible to people coming to the area.

The whole scheme will make Wheatsheaf Walk a more attractive space for people visiting the town centre; the council's also looking to enhance the existing wheatsheaf stone motif as an important recognition of its history.

The council says it's helping businesses in Wheatsheaf Walk and Burscough Street by working with contractors to ensure the shops can stay open while the work is carried out; completion of the work has been made possible due to a grant from Historic England.

Councillor Ian Moran, Leader of West Lancashire Borough Council and portfolio holder for Economic Regeneration, said: "It will be particularly important when non-essential shops can re-open after lockdown that they will be able to start trading as soon as possible. We are really grateful to Historic England for supporting this scheme so businesses can continue to operate as work gets underway."

Charlie Collinge, from Andrew Collinge Hairdressing Salon, which is located in Wheatsheaf Walk and has been in Ormskirk for over 50 years, said: "We are supportive of the redevelopment plans and are really looking forward to the completion of the works which will open up the space to passing trade, as well as making the space feel more sociable for our customers.

"This investment is welcomed and will provide confidence that Ormskirk is moving forward following the difficult year we have all had. We are really looking forward to welcoming our customers back on 12 April when we are currently due to re-open under government guidance."

Dave Coyle, from Ormskirk Business Action, added: "As we emerge from lockdown, hopefully for the last time, it is important we stay positive and continue to support our town centre businesses. We believe that investment such as this to improve Wheatsheaf Walks shows a commitment to improve Ormskirk and create an attractive town centre we can all be proud of."

Chris Mayes, Project Manager at Historic England said: “We are pleased to extend our support for Ormskirk’s historic high street with these extra funds. The early progress made by West Lancashire Borough Council and local people has been encouraging and we are excited to see the project deliver a vibrant town centre which makes the most of its remarkable heritage.”