£1.4 million proposals to help celebrate Snibston’s historic colliery buildings and improve the country park are out for consultation.
Leicestershire County Council is staging a public event at Snibston’s Century Theatre, from 3pm-7.30pm on Wednesday 1st March and will also invite views online.
The council wants to hear people’s views on its proposals to:
- Create a history trail, so people can learn more about the former colliery’s historic pithead buildings
- Improve the country park, with mountain bike trails, a visitor centre and café
- Create a pedestrian walkway and cycle link to the town centre, along a former railway
- Fund the work with £1 million from selling part of the site for residential development
- Improve Ashby Road to improve traffic flow, create on-street parking and remove outdated traffic calming
I’m keen to hear what people think about our proposals to celebrate Snibston’s mining history and make the country park more attractive for visitors. This is a major investment in Coalville.
“If approved, the improved site should be self-sufficient, due to income from the car park and visitor centre.”
Person:County council leader, Councillor Nick Rushton
North West Leicestershire District Council's leader, Councillor Richard Blunt, said: "I'm pleased we are working with the county council on this issue, as the regeneration of Coalville is a top priority for my authority.
"My aspiration for this part of the town is to make movement along Ashby Road and access to Snibston Country Park and the Century Theatre much easier. This is something that local residents have told me they would like to see."
The event on 1st March will feature detailed proposals and maps and a chance to speak to the project team.
The consultation results will help the council to finalise its proposals, before submitting a planning application to North West Leicestershire District Council.
Further details and an online form are available at www.tep.uk.com/snibston until consultation closes on 8th March.
Background:
Snibston Discovery Museum closed in July 2015 and the site was cleared, as the council could no longer afford its running costs. The council cares for the pithead buildings – a scheduled ancient monument – plus the Century Theatre and country park and the new proposals aim to make the site self-sufficient and more attractive to visitors.