COUNCIL NEWS
Collecting the stories of St Pauls Square
19th July 2008Public Relations
St Paul’s Square Heritage Project - Community Consultation Day
Bedford Borough Council is seeking your views on improvements put forward for the centrepiece of Bedford’s historic town centre.
The council’s Heritage Interpretation Strategy recognises that St Paul’s Square has played a major part in the development of the town over the centuries. Now a new environmental improvement scheme is set to turn the spotlight on the Square’s important role by providing a range of new features that focus on and bring to life the areas heritage.
The Council has been awarded a grant of up to £50,000 towards the range of interpretive proposals for St Paul’s Square. This offers a unique opportunity to develop the story of the town through the buildings that are situated around the Square today by putting them into their wider historical context. Key to this will be the views and memories of local people whose stories will help to shape features of the new designs.
In order to capture local stories and inform the public about the plans for the future a special market stall will be set up on St Paul’s Square next Wednesday 23rd July from 9.30am and 4.00pm
Sian Hughes, Economic Development Manger, said:
"The regeneration and revitalisation of Bedford town centre is a key priority of the Council and the grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund is recognition that St Paul’s Square was a strategic location in the evolution of the town. The funding is very much welcomed, as it will enable the provision of a range of interpretative features that increases, and maximises access to, and enjoyment of, the local heritage. The interpretive proposals for St Paul’s Square offers a unique opportunity to develop the story of the town through the buildings that are situated around the Square today by putting them into wider historical context. Key to the heritage interpretation planned for St Paul’s Square will be the stories and memories of the many people who have lived and worked alongside it. We hope to see as many people as possible sharing their past experiences to help guide our future improvements.”