Improving Chester's rows

22 February 2007

Chester City Council has big plans to improve the city's historic Rows - the galleried shopping streets which are unique to Chester and of international importance.

The Rows date back to mediaeval times and are central to the of the city's attractiveness as a regional shopping centre and international tourist attraction. They are almost all privately owned and it is the legal responsibility of the individual property owners to keep their part of the complex well maintained.

The city council, however, is also committed to their up-keep and has spent considerable funds and staff resources in doing so.

The council's Rows management includes:

• regular inspections and liaison with property owners on repairs
• council community safety wardens patrolling to deal anti-social behavior
• daily cleaning
• working with the chamber of commerce and traders to manage the use of banners and adverts, making sure not to detract from the attractiveness of the Rows
• encouraging owners to make use of upper floors, converting them into homes
• improving city council owned buildings
• working with the fire service on safety matters

The city council has also undertaken some major initiatives in the last ten years including:

• the installation of the award winning £100,000 architectural lighting scheme
• better access facilities for people with disabilities
• the successful reinstatement of 61/63 Bridge Street Row following a serious fire
• working with the owner to repair structural damage to 8-10 Northgate Street
• achieving more than 30 "living over the shop" schemes, including affordable homes for local residents
• working with Chester Civic Trust on the restoration of Bishop Lloyd's Palace in Watergate Street Row
• £20,000 a year on day to day repairs
• 'Chester Rows: The Inside Story' a guided tour last summer to promote these treasures, the independent stores that trade from them and the historic features they contain.

The city council is currently:

• spending £20,000 on walkway repairs to its property on the Bridge Street Row
• providing CCTV coverage around The Cross to tackle anti-social behaviour
• installing a £100,000 fire detection systems in city council owned property and public areas. Systems are also being designed to enable private owners to take advantage of the council's infrastructure, if they want to
• extending Row shops through the Northgate Development, which include galleried shopping streets
• undertaking research on: fire prevention and safety, surfacing, broadband networking, improvements in cleansing techniques and equipment

Chester City Council and partners have also identified the Rows as a "signature project" in the Chester Culture Park Programme and, as such, it is incorporating significant funding in its budget to undertake other important works to improve and interpret them to include trader directories, way marking and facilities to tell the story of these buildings.

The North West Development Agency is actively considering matching the council's funding for this important project.

The council is also working to achieve World Heritage Site status for the Rows to give them the international recognition they deserve.

Councillor Reggie Jones, economy portfolio holder at Chester City Council said: "The Rows are at the heart of what makes Chester a very special place and we recognise the importance of ensuring they continue to be a distinctive, attractive and vibrant shopping experience for visitors to Chester. Working together with government, retailers and landlords will enable significant improvements with the Rows a central part of our plans to make Chester "a must see" destination.

Councillor Ann Farrell, culture and heritage portfolio holder, said : "Chester's Rows are unique. Nowhere else in the world can people enjoy shopping in such a distinctive historic environment. I welcome plans to improve the Rows and look forward to them eventually achieving World Heritage status."

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