Centre of Nagykőrös to Be Renewed from EU Funding11 May 2010
The centre of Nagykőrös will be renewed by investing over a total of 1.1 billion HUF with the help of EU funding amounting to nearly 730 million HUF. Beyond renewing public areas, Tímár House (The Skinnery), the Calvinist Church and certain parts of the Roman Catholic Church will also be renewed within the framework of this development.
Urban rehabilitation programmes play a key role in the use of EU funding. A total of 24.5 billion HUF was allocated for urban rehabilitation programmes within the framework of the 2004-2006 National Development Plan, whilst, over the 2007-2013 period, funding amounting to a total of 270 billion HUF is available for rehabilitating settlements within the framework of the New Hungary Development Plan. During the 2007-2010 period alone, 8 times the amount allocated for this purpose within the framework of NDP I, i.e. approximately 200 billion HUF, can be invested in the renewal of settlements in various regions. This funding, among others, ensures the opportunity to renew the centre of Sopron, Szeged, Kaposvár, Debrecen, Nyíregyháza, Veszprém or Zalaegerszeg, from which framework the functional rehabilitation of the centre of Nagykőrös will also begin.
The assistance contract underpinning this development in Nagykőrös has just been signed. The 2 three-way intersections currently 75 metres apart will cease to function when the intersection at Highway 441, Szolnoki Street and Kossuth Lajos Street will be transformed into a roundabout within the framework of this project. This roundabout will better structure pedestrian and bicycle routes and make them safer than they are at present. Beyond this roundabout, bicycle routes will be built in every direction. The water and sewerage network will be renewed in conjunction with the upgrading of the road network and the development of the roundabout and associated green areas; in addition, public lighting will also be modernised.
Deák Square, which is currently still open to traffic, will be transformed into a pedestrian zone and function as the main square of the town where events are held. Several new attractive structures and elements will be set up in this new forum of the town and community square: new and old pavilions, a fountain, green area, as well as renewed historic buildings lining the edge of the square will make the town prettier.
Széchenyi Square, which functions as a traditional shopping street, will also be renewed, within the framework of which green spaces in front of the shops will be integrated into the life of this square. The aim is to set up benches and terraces; renew green areas; structure areas adjacent to pedestrian routes and set up new pavilions and a fountain.
50 parking spaces will be created and offered for use free of charge near the strand in the downtown precinct and the pedestrian street.
The historic building known as The Skinnery (Tímár House) owned by the local government and conserving the heritage of the town’s handicraft industry will be given a new function during the course of its renewal. A travel agency and café will be set up on the ground floor, handicraft courses will be organised on the first floor where shops selling handicraft products will also open and an exhibition room will be created on the top floor. The local government will lease the café and shops functionally linked to the exhibition room to small business entrepreneurs.
The tower and facade of the Calvinist Church and the Roman Catholic Church will also be renewed within the framework of this project which has just been launched.