The Assistant Director –
Strategic Growth and Development introduced the item and explained
that there were several individual aspects and long-standing town
centre issues that had to be progressed such as the Traffic
Restriction Order, pedestrian access along with the presence of
cars and the desire to improve the connection between the high
street and the river.
They were complex issues
intrinsically connected to Lincolnshire County Council highways who
owned most of the roads in the town centre. The officer was
investigating how SHDC could work on a common plan with LCC to
address these issues.
It was proposed that a
representative group be set up to explore a strategy for the town
centre and access as a whole with engagement sought from residents
and businesses. The idea of the group was supported by senior
officers at LCC Highways. It was hoped that the group’s
proposals would be presented to the Transport Board at LCC. This
work would sit alongside the improvement plan works which focused
on more short-term issues, as the above-mentioned issues were wider
ranging and required a more focussed approach with a wider group of
partners.
Members raised the following
points:
- It was noted that
there were similar issues in other town centres across the country
and there were many different opinions across Spalding relating to
what needed to be done in terms of access to the town centre. The
group needed to ask the community what they wanted and needed from
the town centre.
- The group was a good
idea, but the parameters of the town centre needed to be defined.
It was a challenge that LCC owned the bulk of the accessible land
within the town centre. A town bus that went directly through the
town centre would be a real benefit for both residents and
businesses and this idea needed to be promoted.
- Market traders were
important users of the town centre, and their views in terms of
access should be sought.
- It would be a
fundamental part of the group’s work to consider the
experiences of everyone in the town centre, especially those with
mobility issues. There were some relatively minor issues within the
town centre, such as uneven paving blocks, that needed to be dealt
with as a matter of urgency - process and delivery should be
quicker.
- It was suggested that
anyone active in the community in respect of the issue of
accessibility within the town centre needed to be involved in the
group’s work.
- It was vital to
collaborate with the steering group on ideas and engage with the
public to gain their views.
- The Chairman
confirmed that it was the ambition of the group to have an initial
discussion and then to consult with the public to gather their
views.
- If the public
response was that parking was wanted within the centre, would that
be possible?
- The Chairman
suggested that it was not a straightforward answer and the
discussion needed to be that broad as no options or ideas should be
left off the table. Questions should be asked and then the
landscape examined to see how appropriate and suitable the idea was
and what would be needed to make it work.
- It could be a good
idea to enable the three car parks in town to have 2 hours of free
parking.
- The Chairman noted
that there were issues surrounding the management of free car
parking hours.
- What was the
timescale for the first meeting of the group to be held?
- The idea would be
taken to a future meeting of Cabinet for approval with the first
meeting being set up very soon after that with regular meetings to
be held thereafter.