First impressions count so it’s no surprise that one of the main pedestrian gateways into Castleford town centre was chosen for improvement as part of Kevin McCloud and The Big Town Plan. With shoppers making 50,000 trips through it every week and the regeneration of the area likely to bring many more, the dark and narrow Tickle Cock Bridge (more on the name later) wasn’t a great advertisement for the town.
By Caroline Bloor
‘The first sights of a town centre (particularly for pedestrians) are really important. They give an immediate opportunity for judgement. If the judgement is that a place that is cared about and well-designed we are much more likely to see it favourably. That applies to residents, visiting shoppers, businesses looking to relocate. Do the people here like it? Care for it? Is it a nice place?’ says series director (and Castleford area local), Hugo Smith.
Built in 1890 the bridge (which is actually a pedestrian underpass) provides an essential thoroughfare under the railway line, linking the main residential area of Castleford with the Carlton Lanes shopping centre. ‘It was small, narrow, very low and gloomy. It was frightening to walk through, you didn’t feel very safe. I know the retailers didn’t like it either,’ says Angie Cockcroft, manager of Carlton Lanes, which houses 45 retail units.
What's been happening in Castleford? Follow its regeneration in Kevin McCloud And The Big Town Plan
Essential reading about the multiple organisations that contributed to Castleford's regeneration
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