Reimagining Heywood’s Square – Public Engagement Questionnaire

Overview

We want to understand the way local residents use Heywood’s square and what they would like to see improved. Please give us your views by clicking the online survey link below, or for more information please continue reading.

Introduction

The next stage of the council’s ongoing work to revamp Heywood town centre, is to look at the re-design of Heywood’s Civic Square, as outlined in the masterplan. In these early stages of the design process, the council has appointed landscape architects Planit via the government’s Shared Prosperity Fund to understand what residents would like to see for the future of their public space.

Why redesign Heywood Civic Square?

The aim of the proposal is to create a more inviting square to increase use by local residents, communities, schools and businesses and to also attract more visitors to Heywood’s vibrant and historic town centre. The proposal looks to open up the public space in front of the new Heywood Civic Centre extension, once built, to include more suitable places for outdoor events, new interactive green spaces, and improved seating and paving.

What has happened so far?

The landscape architects have been asking Heywood’s local residents, charities and businesses what improvements they would like to see in the square. Some key pieces of feedback included that:

• The square is currently used as a cut through, rather than somewhere for people to relax or socialise.  
• People would like to see more cultural events happening in the square.
• Heywood has a strong identity, that should be included in the proposals.

What is being proposed?

Listening to the feedback collected so far, the heart of the proposal looks at reshaping the square to:

1. Create better and larger flexible event spaces in the square, for people of all ages and backgrounds to use to celebrate the culture and heritage of Heywood.
2. Offer different types of green spaces; for people to relax or socialise in, for children to play in and learn from, to showcase Heywood’s talent and culture, and to create a safer, quieter square by creating a buffer from the busy main road.
3. Include different types of outdoor seating for all ages and abilities to use - including space for people to sit outside when using the new café in the proposed extension of the civic centre.

Please share your thoughts and feedback on the initial proposals, the feedback will be recorded and will then shape the final proposals that will be submitted for planning.

Thanks for your time!