TOWN CENTRE TO COME ALIVE

New life is being brought into Loughborough with the latest release of funding for another initiative. 

The Living Loughborough project has had £2.8M of funding over three years confirmed by the Town Deal board to support more events held in the town centre, investment in the town markets, expansion of the CCTV system and digital heritage trails.   

Leader of Charnwood Borough Council and co – chair of the Town Deal board Jonathan Morgan said almost three million pounds over three years is to be put into the project which covers a whole number of other schemes under that title. 

“It’s part of a suite of projects adding up to £16.9 million worth of investment from the Town Deal going into Loughborough along with some private money adding up to about £40 million pounds worth,” said Cllr Morgan. 

“This is an amazing opportunity for Loughborough,” he added. 

Loughborough Town Deal is supporting 11 projects and the other co – chair of the board is Dr Nik Kotecha OBE, founder of Morningside Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Dr Kotecha said: “The town centre is crucial to our local economy and that’s why the Town Deal Board were keen to support the Living Loughborough project. It will help make our town even more vibrant and attractive to visitors and in turn generate footfall for local businesses”. 

Lead member of Loughborough at Charnwood Borough Council Jenny Boker said: “this whole project now is to enhance the market place with more functional equipment, to put a cover over Southfields Park so we can have events there as well as Queen’s Park holding more events”. 

BID (business interest district) chairman Lez Cope – Newman said the BID is very proud to be working with Charnwood Borough Council on bringing this project to life. 

“If ever there’s a time for Loughborough it’s now. We’re going on the digital side to make sure to make sure we future proof it really to get the screens up and the information up so when the screens and the information go in, we can get the businesses advertising,” said Mr Cope – Newman. 

Part of the Love Loughborough project is to use augmented reality to provide heritage trails around the town visitors can follow on their phones.  

Manager of Loughborough BID Lisa Brown said the trails will try to bring people into the town. 

“We will also be improving crime reduction as well as bringing a ranger in who can welcome people to the town,” she said.  

The Living Loughborough project includes: 

• the introduction of new interactive digital trails to encourage people to explore the town centre and its heritage. The trails will feature augmented reality which means they will be able to ‘see into the past’ using a mobile phone app. 
• holding more events 
• digital signage to showcase local events and information 
• investment in Loughborough Markets including: 

the creation of a ‘plaza’ area with seating, lighting, and planters. The space will give more flexibility to be able to hold different types of events 

improvements to the infrastructure of the market to include cabins which can be used all year round and an extension of the electrical supply for market traders 

• addition of a covered area in Southfields Park to hold events 
• the expansion of CCTV cameras in four locations to improve public safety 
• the creation of a new post with Love Loughborough to support crime reduction in the town centre including the purchase of 100 new radios for traders as part of the retail radio scheme 
• more 1-2-1 support for businesses on topics including using digital technology and marketing 

• improvements to Queen’s Park including to the entrances from Granby Street and Granby Street car park, the addition of new information points, new lighting to the bandstand and improved lighting of the Carillon Tower. 
• the addition of a canopy over a paved area outside the café at Charnwood Museum with improved lighting and seating 
• the expansion of free public wi-fi in the town centre to include Ward’s End, Devonshire Square, Bedford Square and Queen’s Park