Examination Copy 28th April 2014 (Draft 2) · Coke Gearing Richard Coke Next Step, Bishop's...

2014–2031

Consultation Statement Appendix 1

Published by Bishop’s Stortford Town Council, The Old Monastery, Windhill, Bishop’s Stortford CM23 2ND

www.stortfordplan.org

2 Consultation Statement – Appendix 1

Silverleys and Meads

Table of Contents

Table of Contents ............................................................................................... 2

Advertisement for Neighbourhood Plan Team members October 2012 .............. 3

Stortford Matters (extract) delivered to all residents ......................................... 4

Example of Poster used to advertise the plan during initial public engagement . 6

Example email newsletter .................................................................................. 7

List of Invitees to focus groups .......................................................................... 8

Notes/minutes of Focus Group Meetings .......................................................... 15

Focus Group On Business ...................................................................................................................... 15

Meeting held on 13 June 2013 ...................................................................................................... 15

Focus Groups for Community (Schools, Sports and Health) ................................................................. 16

Meeting held on 20th June 2013 .................................................................................................... 16

Focus groups on Transport ................................................................................................................... 22


Meeting held on 16th July 2013 ..................................................................................................... 24

Focus groups on Transport – Supporting material ............................................................................... 26

Document tabled by Diane Basavaraj – Save Our Stortford ......................................................... 26

Bishops Stortford Neighbourhood Plan Park and Ride Survey ...................................................... 31

Focus group on Environment and green Spaces ................................................................................... 38


Focus group on Housing and design ..................................................................................................... 42


Focus Group on Town Centre ............................................................................................................... 44

Meeting held on 7th November 2013 ........................................................................................... 44

Focus Group on Town Centre – Supporting material ........................................................................... 46

Invitation to Focus Group meeting ................................................................................................ 46

Town Centre Questionnaire .......................................................................................................... 47



Advertisement for Neighbourhood Plan Team members October

2012



Stortford Matters (extract) delivered to all residents

-



Example of Poster used to advertise the plan during initial public

engagement



Example email newsletter

Bishop's Stortford Neighbourhood Plan - Newsletter No. 5 Latest News Welcome to the fifth newsletter for the Neighbourhood Plan for Bishop's Stortford Silverleys and Meads

Wards. Draft objectives and policies for Business, Schools and Sport have now been published as well

as revised draft policies for Housing and Design, and Environment and Green Spaces. The latter now includes

addtional policies on the environment. All draft policies are available to read and download

at http://www.bishopsstortfordtc.gov.uk/neighbourhood-plan.

These policies are still at a draft stage and are subject to change but in the meantime we welcome

your comments and suggestions. You can do so online by using the 'Add New Comment' tab on the relevant

pages or you can write to us at BSTC, The Old Monastery, Windhill, Bishop's Stortford, CM23 2ND.

********Consultation Day at Rhodes this Saturday!******** Don't forget our Open Day at Rhodes this Saturday, 20 July. Please feel free to come along at any time between

9.30am and 3.30pm and view the exhibition and participate in workshops on the draft Neighbourhood Plan.

Although the Plan is just for Silverleys and Meads Wards, these areas include the centre of Bishop's Stortford

and any development is likely to affect the whole town.

You will be able to find out more about the Plan, vote and comment on the objectives and policies that have

been developed so far and suggest others that could be included. There will also be regular presentations

throughout the day on Neighbourhood Planning in general for those who would like to know more about the

process.

Any further drafts will be published at http://www.bishopsstortfordtc.gov.uk/neighbourhood-plan as they

evolve.

The Neighbourhood Plan Team

-------

http://www.bishopsstortfordtc.gov.uk/neighbourhood-planhttp://www.bishopsstortfordtc.gov.uk/neighbourhood-plan



List of Invitees to focus groups

Organisation Contact (email and telephone

available on request)

Mobile Operators Association

Rotary Club of Bishop's Stortford Graham Savage

Rotary Club of Stansted and Stort Valley Geoff Lay

Women in Business Network Lindsay Loxley

Bishop's Stortford Business Connections Denis O'Regan

East Herts District Council Strategic Planning Bryan Thomsett

Hertfordshire LEP

Business Stortford John Barfoot

Bishop's Stortford Town Centre Partnership Janine Garner

Coke Gearing Richard Coke

Next Step, Bishop's Stortford

BS Chamber of Commerce mailing list

BS Estate Agents

Sikh Society Sukhdev Singh Aluwalia

All Saints Hockerill Father Goss

H & E Mosque & Islamic Cultural Centre

St Michael's Church

United Reform Church

Baptist Church

Methodist Church

St Joseph's Catholic Church

Community Church

Save our Stortford Diane Basavaraj



English Heritage

Archaeologists Section

BS Local History Society Mrs J Cornell

Natural England

CPRE

The Woodland Trust Tony Chadwick

The Forestry Commission?

Canal and River Trust Jane Hennell

Dept of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Rights of Way Service

East Herts Footpath Society

East Herts District Council, Landscape Section Hertford

Countryside Management Service Tony Bradford

Environment Agency (Water Interest)

Essex Wildlife Trust

Fields in Trust

Hertfordshire Biological Records Centre

Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust

The British Horse Society

Campaign to Protect Rural England

London, Essex & Herts Amphibian & Reptile Trust

Essex Field Club

East Herts Ramblers Association David Glass

NW Essex & East Herts Preservation Assoc Mr N Mead

Stort Valley Ramblers Association Alan

BS and District Angling Society David Tadgell



BS Beekeepers Association Phil Wainman

Birchanger Wood Trust Pat Forrest

BS and District Footpaths Association Frances Clapp

BS Allotment and Garden Association Mr L J H Cornell

BS Natural History Society Bob Reed

RSPB - Stort Valley Malcolm Allan

ACRE (DEFRA)

Environment Agency John Bryden

NHS Trust Hertfordshire

South Street Surgery Rebecca Pittuck

Church Street Surgery Mr G Clarke

Parsonage Surgery

Anne Berensen

Alzheimer's Society

Homes and Communities Agency Steve Collins

Circle Anglia/South Anglia

Planning Obligations Unit, Hertfordshire Property

EHDC Housing Development Unit

Aldwyck Housing Association

Guinness Housing Association

Origin Housing Association

Papworth Housing Trust

Paradigm Housing Association

Riversmead Housing Association

Moat Housing

Bishop's Stortford High School Mr Paul Noble



Herts and Essex High School Mrs Cathy Tooze

Birchwood School Chris Ingate

Hockerill Anglo-European College Simon Dennis

St Mary's Catholic School Mr A Sharpe

All Saints' C of E Primary School Mr Chris Parker

Northgate Primary School Mrs D Glasgow

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Mr Peter Coldwell

St Michael's C of E Primary School Mr M Willis

Windhill Primary and Nursery School Mrs Beaumont

Bishop's Stortford College Mr Jeremy Gladwin

Sport England

1st Bishop's Stortford & Hockerill Scouts Simon Carter

Silver Leys Scout Group Ros Rankin

BS Community Football Club D Bayley

BS Canoe Club Angela Aldam

BS Cricket Club Jen Lindop

Whoosh Explore (canoeing) Peter Nash

BS Swifts Football Club

BS Rugby Football Club Chris Davies

Grange Paddocks Leisure Centre

BS Squash Club Andrew Mulvey

Chantry Squash Club John Palombo

BS Lawn Tennis Club Alistair Davidson

BS Orienteers Josh Jenner

BS Running Club

Youth Connexions, Northgate Youth Centre Jamie Southwell



Bishop's Stortford Sports Trust Paul Carter

309 Squadron Air Training Corps

1096 Squadron Air Training Corps Paul Snook

Bishop's Stortford Hockey Club Gregg Pettit

Network Rail

Greater Anglia

Arriva

Essex Police

Hertfordshire Constabulary

Highways Agency Mark Norman

Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue

Highways Development Mgement - CHN203

Parking Services Buntingford

Cyclist Touring Club John Curry

Highways Agency

Sustrans/National Cycle Network

Bishop's Stortford Cycling Club Dave Friend

East Herts Ramblers Association (BS) David Glass

The British Horse Society

BS and District Footpaths Association Frances Clapp

Herts CC - Head of Transport Sanjay Patel

East Herts Footpath Society Mark Westley

Stort Valley Rambers



Invitation to Focus groups (example)

From: Sue Belo [mailto:[email protected]]

Sent: 21 May 2013 11:56

To: [email protected]

Subject: Neighbourhood Plan for Bishop's Stortford Silver Leys and Meads Wards

Dear Colleague

Bishop’s Stortford Neighbourhood Plan

You may be aware that Bishop’s Stortford Town Council is in the process of developing a

Neighbourhood Plan for Silver Leys and Meads Wards. These wards have been chosen as they

include the ASRs (Areas of Special Restraint) which were identified as areas for future development

in the late 80s.

Neighbourhood Planning allows the local community to have a say in the planning and development

in the town. It cannot stop development which is already agreed as part of East Herts District

Council’s Local Plan but it can influence the shape of that development.

We are still at a very early stage but have started to form some draft objectives and policies on

Green Spaces, as well as a draft vision. Although we will be presenting the final draft plan for public

consultation at a later stage, we would value your initial input now.

We would be very grateful if you and your colleagues would comment on the initial draft attached

and return your comments to me within the next four weeks.

We are also planning to hold a series of Focus Group meetings with representatives of key interest

groups to discuss what objectives and policies need to be considered. If you or your colleagues

would like to attend all or any of these groups please contact me to let me know which groups you

would like to attend.

All focus groups will take place at 7.00pm at the Council Chambers in Windhill and are on the

following dates:

Business – 13 June

Community (Schools, Health, Sports etc.) – 18 June

Transport – 20 June

Green Spaces and Environment – 25 June

Housing and Design – 27 June

mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]



In the meantime, if you would like to discuss any part of the plan for Green Spaces, please do not

hesitate to contact a member of the lead team working on this topic as follows:

Rob Francis [email protected]

The draft plan, as it evolves, will be published on the Bishop’s Stortford Town Council Website at

www.bishopsstortfordtc.gov.uk and local residents and businesses will be invited to post their

comments and suggestions on the relevant pages of the Neighbourhood Planning section of the site.

We are also on Facebook and Twitter:

https://twitter.com/stortfordplan or https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bishops-Stortford-

Neighbourhood-Plan/107613452780812

We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

Sue Belo

Bishop’s Stortford Town Council

The Old Monastery

Windhill

Bishop’s Stortford

Herts

CM23 2ND

Tel: 01279 652274 ext 229

www.bishopsstortfordtc.gov.uk

mailto:[email protected]://www.bishopsstortfordtc.gov.uk/https://twitter.com/stortfordplanhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Bishops-Stortford-Neighbourhood-Plan/107613452780812https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bishops-Stortford-Neighbourhood-Plan/107613452780812file://OAK/Document%20DB/Neighbourhood%20Planning/Plan%20and%20Policy%20Areas/Consultation%20Feedback/Consultation%20Statement%20Documentation/www.bishopsstortfordtc.gov.uk



Notes/minutes of Focus Group Meetings

FOCUS GROUP ON BUSINESS

Meeting held on 13 June 2013

Note that although people were invited to attend a Focus Group on Business and Employment, there

were no attendees and the meeting was cancelled. A meeting on the Town Centre was held later in

the year.



FOCUS GROUPS FOR COMMUNITY (SCHOOLS, SPORTS AND HEALTH)

Meeting held on 18th June 2013

In attendance:

Mike Allen, Bishop’s Stortford Chamber of Commerce

Ann and David Brereton

Paul Carter, Bishop’s Stortford Sports Trust

Lorraine Evans, Bishop’s Stortford Running Club

Rob Francis, Chantry Community Association

Mione Goldspink

Gary Jones, councillor for Silver Leys Ward, BSTC and EHDC

Viv Law, Bishop’s Stortford Running Club

Pam Lewin, NHS England, Welwyn Garden City

Deborah Munro, Parsonage Residents Association

Perry Oliver, Bishop’s Stortford Rugby Club

Nabiel Shukur, South Street Surgery

Colin Woodward, BSTC councillor for All Saints Ward, BSTC, EHDC and HCC

James Parker, BSTC

Sue Belo, BSTC

Alison Eardley, Action for Market Towns

HEALTH – TEAM 1

There is a link with housing for older people – e.g. height of sockets etc.

Existing surgeries are already over capacity. With new housing would need to increase number of

GPs in total, e.g. 8,000 – 9,000 minimum new population. 1,800 persons per GP means an extra 3–4

GPs. Current surgeries cannot cope with this as number of GPs gets too large to manage, so need to

build a new purpose surgery or polyclinic which would take in other specialties e.g. dentist etc.

Acute services which are impacted by other areas are also over capacity.

Immigration figures unknown – may not need health care as per older population but can draw

more on specialist care due to differences in expectations from system e.g. in Poland

There is under-provision for mental health, Oxford House is over capacity and patients have to go

elsewhere (hard for people who need the care). Also understaffed after care.

May be new acute care centre towards Cheshunt => Links to transport policy area.

GPs can no longer accommodate specialist treatment due to pressure on space following expansion

of roll therefore almost all secondary care is at Herts and Essex => Links to transport as Herts and

Essex is on wrong side of town to the new housing development.

All three surgeries would like to be able to accommodate some secondary care again. None of the

practices can expand on current sites.



Options:

Option 1

Polyclinic in centre of Town (easy to get to) and satellite surgeries around the town (easy access).

Option 2

Add on one more practice to cover new housing area (including 3-4 GPs)

Option 3

Current surgeries to expand through satellite sites retaining main hub of some sort (e.g. town centre

site). Possible central call centre.

Polyclinic/Federation Hub Idea – thoughts.

Money from back office staff- will people worry that they won’t get some service from the satellite

as from the central hub.

Customer will have a choice but depends how mobile they are. Would need dial-a-ride service

perhaps.

Will it be more difficult to get continuity of service?

Nature of delivery has changed.

Will GPs actually want to have a new site?

Would a polyclinic or equivalent give healthcare staff options to spend more time on elderly care

etc.?

Other matters

It helps that houses are built over time makes it easier to have a branch surgery but must have

capacity to expand.

Site for new site must be big enough – needs consultation with specialists. (Silver Leys was not big

enough to start with taking into account longer term.)

Building must be fit for purpose, e.g. size of rooms etc.

Needs room for expansion – modular buildings

Reconfigure Herts and Essex site?

Could CIL pay for facilities indoor and outdoor for elderly, children’s’ playground or polyclinic?

The elderly need facilities for exercising, physiotherapy, etc., small village for dementia, e.g. bus

stops where people are safe.

Need another ‘Apton Day Centre’ and need to be in contact with other services.



Community focus – sports needs to tackle causes of health problems.

Build into new buildings larger space to allow education about health.

HEALTH – TEAM 2

The effects of development will have impacts on health such as needing more vaccinations for

children.

The average patient visits their GP 7.5 times per year.

Funding formula does not pay surgeries for the number of patients they have. There is currently a

problem of appointments - not being able to see the same doctor.

The new population will need access to a GP service that is inadequate as it stands without any

population growth.

Do we need two smaller practices to deal with demand or a polyclinic?

BSNC says they are able to put in healthcare provision in the ASRs Western Neighbourhood.

Nabeil Shukur explained that a GP Healthcare Centre needs to be ring-fenced.

The ASRs are likely to result in 9,000 additional patients, which at 1,800 patients per GP means that

7 GPs will be needed + additional nurses (4,000 patients per nurse) including nurse prescribers. Any

new GP surgery needs to have potential to house this number of GPs, nurses, and other health

professionals. A modern health centre serving 20,500 patients would need 20 consulting rooms.

At South Street, prior to expansion, there was an on-site physiotherapy service which was very

popular and there is currently a 12-16 week wait for physiotherapy. There was also a visiting

psychiatrist, gynaecologist, and dermatologist providing secondary care. A polyclinic would allow the

practice to provide such care in future.

There has also been additional pressure caused by moving care into community. Five extra rooms at

Silver Leys would be needed for this service.

Now more people are treated in the community whereby Social Services have a pivotal role as they

do not want people in hospital for social reasons i.e. they cannot cope at home. There are now

‘Home First’ Nurses visiting patients at home and the surgery needs to provide a hub for them.

There is also a need for educational facilities within the practice as people need to be educated on

smoking, diabetes etc. The UK is moving towards USA where obesity is becoming an increasing

problem as well as smoking.

Current facilities in Bishop’s Stortford are not fit for purpose. The Thorley Park practice was built as a

shop and Bishop’s Park was a pub. Neither has adequate facilities nor sound-proofing. Any new

development needs to be purpose-built. It could be two or three storeys if adequate lifts are

provided. It also needs to be in the Western Neighbourhood due to the urgency of current needs.



SCHOOLS

(Ann Brereton) keen on parent-led free schools but the problem is that parents cannot find site. It

takes time to build schools from scratch => you need to plan.

We need to consider the effect of development at Elsenham.

General agreement on Secondary Schools:

1. We need new secondary school.

2. Patmore Close preferred on grounds that Herts County Council already owns it.

3. Nonsense to use the site for a replacement school, it needs to be additional.

4. Maybe refurbishment of existing sites could be accomplished through a staged programme:

building new, temporarily relocating old demolish old and rebuild and reoccupy old.

Building should be suitable for general evening use by community, the needs of children with

additional needs, e.g. Challenging behaviour should be catered for (which requires a part of a

building specially fitted) and access for all. Vocational education should also be considered but this

has no effect on classroom size, only fit out.

Could the old school site become Polyclinic?

General agreement on primary schools:

Ideal size is 2 form entry (1 = too small and 3 = too large). Possibly build as 1 form entry but

expandable to 2?

Ambition that children receive primary education in neighbourhood correct.

General agreement on nursery provision:

Both attached and independent should be available.

From a planning perspective all that is needed is shells where a nursery can go.

All schools to be built with adequate pitches, gyms and access to swimming pool.

SPORT

Bishop’s Stortford Running Club (represented by Viv Hall and Lorraine Evans)

Has 140 members, 40 junior members and has a beginner’s course with 26 people.

Grange Paddocks is currently used for Triathlon.

Club needs a running track and has been looking at running track in Beldams Lane.

Ware and Harlow have running tracks but Bishop’s Stortford has nothing purpose built.

Juniors currently travel to Herts Phoenix in Ware.



The ideal area for a new track would be Sworder’s Field. It needs to be well-lit and level, 400 metres

long.

The club currently uses Rugby Club facilities but it can be muddy and they also use Herts & Essex

School but it is not always available.

Lighting is key.

They have nothing to offer disabled people.

BSS Trust: covers Hockey, Circuit, Squash and Tennis (represented by Paul Carter)

There is a strong junior interest and there is a Junior Cricket Club

The Trust is currently looking at hockey and cricket for the disabled but needs disabled access.

20 years ago, Hockey changed to play on Astroturf pitches and so the club is now split and games are

now played at Hockerill.

The clubs have the following memberships:

Hockey Club 400 members

Tennis Club 400 members

Cricket Club 200 members (includes a lot of social members)

Squash Club 80 members

The Trust wants all-weather pitches at Cricketfield Lane which would provide facilities for 5 aside

football.

Paul Carter said that it would be possible to add a running track to a hockey pitch.

There was a discussion about changing/shower facilities which all clubs need.

Bishop’s Stortford Sports Trust wants to benefit sports as a whole.

It was noted that there is a shortage of junior football facilities in town.

The Tennis Club consists of Clay courts (used by 10–15 years old), a number of AstroTurf courts

which are the most popular, and grass courts which are only used for a few months in summer

months.

Land has been purchased for more tennis courts.

The Trust would like to put a bubble over a couple of courts for all-weather use.

Currently there is a challenge of access and parking and a need to facilitate extra parking. All clubs

are using the changing facilities. All have bars and hire facilities.

There is a real shortage of football facilities but it was noted that no representatives of football were

present!



Rugby Club (represented by Perry Oliver)

The key challenge for the Rugby Club is having enough green space. The club has four pitches which

are adequate for playing senior/youth games but not enough green space for all young people who

want to play. They are fortunate to have a good relationship with BS College and have had to re-

locate 150 youth players to Bishop’s Stortford College. The club lost its fire station pitches to Herts

County Council and these have never been replaced and the club needs more green space.

Swifts Football – there was a plan for the club to re-locate Swifts to Beldams Lane but this was

prevented when the schools plan was rejected.

Swifts Football Club would like to have additional facilities and if they went to Beldams Lane, then

the Rugby Club could use their field.

The Rugby Club facilities are in need of updating but there is too much cost involved for the Club to

fund by itself.

There was a discussion about clubs sharing space and it was advised that Hockey and Football are

compatible, and Football and Rugby are compatible but not Hockey and Rugby so three-way use

would not work.

Ideally, an all-weather surface is needed.

Funding is needed for this and the Rugby Governing Body would probably provide match funding. An

all-weather surface can be calibrated for 100 hours of use per week.

The Rugby Club has the following membership:

650 youth members (there are 70 children under 6 wanting to play rugby)

150 playing members and approx. 1,600 members in total.

The effects of demographic growth were discussed and the impact of coaching staff. Senior players

are being used for coaching but have to do coaching qualifications.

Deborah Munro asked about the Sports Leadership Awards - apparently Bishop’s Stortford Boys High

is involved in this area.

Rugby Club has a coaching policy so no problem.

The main effect of demographic growth are that although this would benefit all clubs, there would

need to be a proportional increase in facilities and additional green space would be needed.

It was thought that Cricketfield Lane should be protected as a sporting green hub for the town. The

Silver Leys area should be ring-fenced for future sporting development for the town overall.



FOCUS GROUPS ON TRANSPORT


In attendance:

Cllr Philip Demonti

Cllr Colin Woodward

Alderman Ralph Gilbert

Mrs Anna Deeks

Mrs Diane Basavaraj

Mr Brian Edwards

Mrs Lorraine Evans

Mr Hugh Coe

Mr Rob Drewett

Mr Mike Allen

Cllr John Barfoot

VISION

Make a positive contribution to the sustainable development of Bishop’s Stortford, economically,

environmentally and socially and takes into account the substantial increase in vehicular and

pedestrian traffic resulting from any development.

Ensure that the requirements of pedestrians, including those with restricted mobility who use power

assisted chairs and wheelchairs, together with cyclists, private vehicles, public transport, service and

commercial vehicles are properly met and accessible to all.

DISCUSSION POINTS

1. Considering how transport needs are served at the moment, where will the pressure points

be if the population grows?

2. Given the objective regarding pedestrian and cyclist safety, what if any, specialist treatment

needs might need to be available across the Neighbourhood Area and town.

3. Please say if you are in agreement with mix modes of travel and if not why? What would it

take to make people change their behaviours?

4. Would a Park & Ride facility change your behaviours? What conditions do you think are

required to make it viable?

5. Would more effective public transport with improved journey frequencies help reduce

private car use and traffic congestion? What are the conditions necessary?

PROBLEMS

Biggest problem according to retailers is that car parking @ 90% capacity already. Need to know

where they are coming from=>segment the population.

Problem roads will be:



Hadham Road

Rye Street

Hockerill

Station

Beldams Lane

ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF TRANSPORT - HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE IN BUT NOT BY CAR?

1. Reinstate managed parking permits for staff of town centre businesses, converting empty

residents parking zones – workers parking zones (Is this new?)

2. Park & Ride – conditions for viability for shop workers are:

Every 5–7 mins or 10 mins max

Sufficient parking spaces

£1.50 per day fares or parking (or less)

Correctly located

6am-10am, 4pm-8pm

Most people felt it would not work for shoppers (town not big enough) or commuters (convenience

is the ONLY thing which matters for commuters). But commuters from locality of car park could be

dropped off so probably have two town centre stops.

Maybe it could work for ‘day trippers’, but only if town centre were attractive and car-free.

3. Improve School Parking

Drop off points/off road parking (reduces traffic congestion caused by parked cars).

4. Reduce school run

Safe pedestrian, cycle, scooter routes

Mandatory travel planning

5. Other ideas to reduce car travel

Town travel plan co-ordinator?

Do not build more car parking=deter cars

Car share schemes?

Cable car/Ultra-light Railway

Encourage mopeds.

IDEAS FOR INCREASING CAPACITY TO REDUCE CONGESTION

A ‘parkway’ station at Stansted or Thorley Wash taking people out of centre (generally thought

impractical)

Computerised traffic management (John Barfoot advises this is already committed)

Pull-in points for buses.



No right turn at Hockerill (John Barfoot says this has been modelled and does not work)

Drop off points/off road parking for schools (reduces traffic congestion caused by parked cars)

M11 North Harlow exit

OTHER

Why do we not have town centre footfall data?

Introduce a 20mph speed limit in all residential areas.

As a result of the ideas discussed at this focus group, a further meeting was held approximately

three weeks later.

Meeting held on 16th July 2013

In attendance:

Cllr Philip Demonti (Chairman)

Alderman Ralph Gilbert

Mrs Anna Deeks

Mrs Diane Basavaraj

Mrs Lorraine Evans

Mr Hugh Coe

Mr Mike Allen

Mr Ian Willard

Mr Stephen Tapper

James Parker (facilitating)

Park and Ride

Comments from Anna Deeks– retailers are agreed:

Park & Ride is for staff not customers.

Operating times: 6.30-9.00 & 3.30-?? (6.30?)

More than one park and ride needed

Confirm £1.50 is the target total round trip fare and parking

Results of survey presented. Everyone agreed that it must be subject to a test of viability.

Shared Space

It was noted that Shared Space, although often thought of for residential areas, is also used in town

centres to solve specific problems. Examples are Poynton, Kensington

Steve Tapper asked – what is the problem it would solve. All agreed it is unlikely to solve congestion

but might solve connectivity and making areas inviting.



Possible areas

Link road (connection between Sworder’s Field and Navigation)

Whole Town Centre area (make it more inviting)

Adderley Road/Riverside (connection across road to river)

Area around the Station

Retailers not averse to the idea.

Transport Interchange

General agreement that an urban design led transport interchange would be an asset to the town.

Key is to have covered and facilitated area which is attractive and has clearly legible links to the

Town, which also facilitates the ‘end to end’ journey for multi-mode travellers. Possibly turning the

whole area into shared space.

Other Ideas/comments on policies

In the policy on ‘Park & Ride’ Anna does not like “A sustainable funding model taking into account

the pricing relationship with town centre parking and the requirements for revenue generation from

that parking”. Specifically “the requirements for revenue generation”

The following additional policies/policy areas were suggested

Suitably located additional parking to be encouraged e.g. Goods Yard

SENSITIVE Double-decking of Northgate End +Link Road to be encouraged

Double-decking of Tesco car park to be investigated (possible Park & Ride site)

Mitigations to loss of trade to be required from Town Centre developers (could be as simple as

signage etc.)

Town Centre developers to pump prime a Town Centre Management Team.

The desirability of an Urban Transport Plan, whilst not a planning policy, to be ‘weaved in’ in a

similar way to that which has been done for Sports.

Improve wording required as regards designing for Cycling. Ian Willard to provide some suggested

words.



FOCUS GROUPS ON TRANSPORT – SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Document tabled by Diane Basavaraj – Save Our Stortford

GETTING AROUND: IDEAS, THOUGHTS AND VISIONS FOR THE TOWN CENTRE

Diane Basavaraj – Save our Stortford

Our Challenges are to:

Tackle peak time congestion in and around the town centre.

Increase the use of sustainable modes of travel such as walking, cycling, and buses.

Facilitate choice in travel modes to the town centre and promote environmentally

conscious behaviour.

Create safe travel environments.

Ideas:

Each idea below should not be viewed in isolation but rather as a portfolio of concepts that

may collectively help to address our challenges.

These ideas flow from the notion of encouraging a substantial proportion of car users to park

away from the town centre and choose alternative modes for access to the town centre itself.

The ideas also contribute to the creation of a vibrant and viable town centre.

1. Idea - The concept of shared space

The idea of cars, pedestrians, cyclists and other road users sharing equal rights of way on city and

town centre roads is catching on. The challenge is to strike a balance between keeping motor traffic

moving whilst making the same space user friendly for everyone else.

Shared space is an urban design approach which seeks to minimise demarcations between vehicle

traffic and pedestrians, often by removing features such as curbs, road surface markings and traffic

light signals .



Above - Illustrations of shared spaces

While the concept of shared space may feel counter intuitive, take a look at this fantastic

short film about the radical changes they have made in Poynton in Cheshire:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vzDDMzq7d0. This is not just an illustration; it

actually demonstrates how this can work and make a positive difference.

Also, take a look at this article to find out more about Poynton a year after shared space

became a reality. The signs are still positive : no accidents or injuries, more cyclists, an

increase in footfall and an increase in turnover in 80% of the shops.

http://www.gmcc.org.uk/2013/05/how-poynton-tamed-its-traffic/

Food for thought re the shared space concept:

a) Are there areas in or near to the town centre where this could work?

Station/transport interchange?

Hockerill lights?

Link Road/Causeway area /integration of Sworders

field with the town centre?

North street/Potter street/South street ?

b) The Hendersons proposal to develop the causeway and proposals to change the

railway station will impact on the urban landscape of the town. Can these

developments also reflect and contribute towards shared space principals?

2. Idea – ‘Park and Ride hubs’ and ‘Park and Stride hubs’

Park and ride hubs would be located on the very outskirts of the town and offer car parking

and regular bus routes with real time information services. They could also offer safe cycle

storage (Including overnight) for people who would like to do part of their journey by bike.

Park and Stride hubs would be located a little nearer to the town centre and ideally offer a

pleasant and safe walking and cycling route in to the town. A good example of this is Grange

Paddocks which offers parking and a pleasant route along a dedicated river path.

Whilst anyone would be able to use these facilities, with some active travel planning and

attractive financial incentives, specific groups could be targeted. In 2012 research involving

52 businesses carried out by the BS Chamber of Commerce and the BS Retailers

Association, highlighted that out of 1156 employees, 83% (960) drove to work. Furthermore,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vzDDMzq7d0http://www.gmcc.org.uk/2013/05/how-poynton-tamed-its-traffic/



54% of car parking spaces provided by the Council were used by employers and employees.

The point here is that it may be better for the town centre’s economic viability if these

Council spaces were used by shoppers. In terms of congestion this may also help because

shoppers can often avoid peak travel times.

It’s also worth considering that for the Park and Ride hubs, the ‘ride’ aspect does not always

have to be a bus. It could be a hired moped or electric bike that has drop off locations

elsewhere ( like the schemes in London) Additionally if a hub was located at a site where

you could get an Ultra Light Railway tram to travel across grass it may be possible to have

an off road route to town.

Food for thought re the ‘Park and Ride and Park and Stride Hubs’:

a) Where could we locate these hubs?

b) How can we identify existing and new cycle and walkway routes to the town?

c) Could real time information on car park hub locations and capacity be displayed on

the Intelligent Transport System signs that are already in place around Stortford?

d) If car park hubs need to be multi story, can they look good?

3. Idea – more than just a railway station: a transport interchange !

If we really want to be a town that encouages and facilitates travel by sustainable modes

then it is not enough to add a few bike racks here and there. The proposed revamp of the

railway station could present an ideal opporutity to break some entrenched habits. For some



car users , they will always prefer to pay for expensive parking right by the station for the

added convenience this brings to their overall journey. For others, under the right

circumstances, they may be tempted towards alternatives. The illustration below shows a

shared space transport interchange where rail, bus,bike, moped and pedestrian travellers

can converge in what can be made in to pleasant and customer friendly environments.

Should the town suddenly win the lottery, there is also the option of a completely new out of

town car/rail interchange. Basically a very large car park and a station where commuters can

catch the train. This could deflect a high proportion of people who currently travel to the

station by car away from the town to a location especially designed for quick and easy

access for car users.

Food for thought re more than just a railway station: a transport interchange!

a) Is it too late to influence the current proposed changes to the railway station?

b) Could we have integrated systems that allow people who park in the ‘out of the town

centre’ park and ride and park and stride hubs to buy their rail ticket from a machine

at these locations (or online) and possibly combine it with payment for the car park

(possibly at a reduced rate to incentivise!)?

4. Idea - Visions for the town centre: the role of transport and travel in making its

future viable, vital and vibrant.

Transport and travel is not a closed, ring fenced or self-contained system. Instead it is

inextricably intertwined with other systems that go in to making a place or environment.

These are the things that contribute to how it looks and feels to be in that place. Bishop’s

Stortford town centre has the potential to become an even better ‘destination’ – for shopping,

leisure, entertainment, recreation and that community buzz!. Not many town centres can

boast about a river and large swaths of park areas that are right on the doorstep of shops,

restaurants, cinemas etc.



The ideas above; shared spaces and park and ride/stride hubs may result in a town centre

that is less dominated by motor traffic and instead has a pleasant environment that may

encourage more people to use, visit and perhaps stay a little longer. It could potentially

increase footfall and increase revenue for business owners, as demonstrated in the Poynton

example.

However, if more people choose to leave their cars away from the town centre, will this

discourage them from shopping or at least limiting their shopping to what they can easily

carry? No – not necessarily. There will still be car park spaces in the town centre for those

who need to use their cars or who plan a ‘big shop’. But there will also be alternatives for

those who don’t want to use their cars.

Furthermore there are excellent schemes around such as Hubbub – a home delivery service

which is on a mission to save the High Street. It offers a great way of encouraging people to

buy locally and also have their purchases transported to their homes – so no need for people

to use their own car!

Here’s how it works. Although this image shows people ordering online from home, I am

sure that people could do this whilst actually in the shop..

The above ideas are certainly not exhaustive. Although sections on Intelligent Travel

Systems and Travel plans/travel co-ordinators have not been included in this document, they

would also play an important role in facilitating the transformation of the town in to a more

efficient, economically viable, visually pleasing and healthier place to get around.

I would really welcome your feedback along with new ideas or things that build on ideas

already shared. Thank you.

Diane Basavaraj

[email protected]

07739 406603

mailto:[email protected]



Bishops Stortford Neighbourhood Plan Park and Ride Survey

Survey

To inform the Transport section of the Neighbourhood Plan for Bishop's Stortford Silver Leys and Meads Ward

a survey is being conducted by the Neighbourhood Plan Team. Please note that this survey does not imply that

any commitment has been made to provide a park and ride in Bishop's Stortford.

This survey is aimed at people who drive into Bishop's Stortford to work. If you do not drive into Bishop's

Stortford to work please do not complete this survey

1. From which direction do you enter Bishop's Stortford? *

East (A120 from Puckeridge)

North (B1004 Rye Street or B1383 Stansted Road)

West (M11 Junction or A120 from Dunmow)

South East (A1060 Hallingbury Road)

South (A1184 London Road from Sawbridgeworth)

South West( (B1004 Great Hadham Road)

Please select the direction from which you enter the Town.

2. Which sector do you work in?

I work in Stortford in Retail

I work in Stortford in the service industry (including Professional Services)

I drive into Stortford to commute elsewhere

Other

Please indicate which sector you work in

3. What is the MAXIMUM daily charge you would pay to use a park and ride located at the WEST of Town

(near the A120 Tesco roundabout) if the bus frequency is: *

£4.00 or more £3.00 £2.00 £1.50 £1.00 Wouldn't use it

Every 10

Minutes

£4.00 or more

£3.00

£2.00

£1.50

£1.00

Wouldn't use it



£4.00 or more £3.00 £2.00 £1.50 £1.00 Wouldn't use it

Every 15

Minutes

£4.00 or more

£3.00

£2.00

£1.50

£1.00

Wouldn't use it

Every 20

minutes

£4.00 or more

£3.00

£2.00

£1.50

£1.00

Wouldn't use it

Assume that the price includes both parking and return bus fare and that the bus stops in the Town Centre and at

the Station

4. If the park and ride is not commercially viable, how should it be subsidised? *

by increasing Council Tax

employers should provide parking subsidies

by increasing Town Centre parking charges to encourage use of the Park and Ride

park and ride should be provided only if commercially viable

Depending on the price charged and the popularity, park and ride facilities may not be commercially viable. If

they aren't, do you think it should be subsidised and who should pay?

5. Additional Comments

Please add any additional comments you would like to make about Park and Ride in Bishop's Stortford

6. Your email *

We capture this only to prevent multiple submissions by a single individual. Your email address will not be

shared with any other organisation.

Submit



Park and Ride Survey - Summary results July 2013



Park & Ride Survey July 2013 - Comments

£6.00 all day is ridiculous, I can now not afford to travel to and from work and I don’t have time to park in cheaper car parks that are further away as I'm always very busy in the mornings and evenings.

A park and ride is a brilliant idea for those who work in Stortford and live outside the town, it is extremely expensive for workers to park in the town centre (Cambridge, Saffron Walden, Harlow and other towns in the area charge significantly less on a monthly basis). This would be a positive move to recognise and support the people who work in, buy from and make Stortford town centre the place it is.

Any help is better than none.

As a company we work shifts - some until 9pm so we would need usage and good bus services to and from until at least 9pm.

As a commuter coming into Stortford for business, the increased costs of parking are becoming prohibitive and Stortford and its residents will ultimately lose out when talented professionals and other business choose to locate elsewhere due to transportation costs. It makes it almost impossible for those not living in Stortford to work here under the present conditions and I would welcome a park and ride and would certainly use one.

Can’t say that this is a good idea, after all Stortford is hardly the size of Cambridge is it!!!

End of stay paid parking facilities should be available within walking distance of the town to readily attract shoppers and the employed into Bishop's Stortford. We are creating this parking problem and visitors are voting with their feet!

"For me, I take two other people into work, we have a private, paid for, parking space close to our work. This is used 6 days per week and even when I am on holiday or away on business. A P&R scheme just doesn't suit my needs. Also the time and distance I need to travel to get to the P&R, I would be in work. So for me & my staff It doesn't work.

Q4. I would add a 5th option, which would allow those working in town to have a "workers Subsidy", subsidised by council tax, employers or parking charge increase. But if the last option or council tax subsidy were chosen then the scheme if used by local residents would have to include them too."

Funding is very hard to call - should residents subsidise parking for workers who live outside town? Will employers look to re-locate outside town if asked to subsidise employees' parking? Should residents be pleased to subsidise workers' parking to ensure the town centre has a range of services they desire? Would increasing parking charges penalise people who could not use the park & ride due to its location - it would only be fair if there were park & rides at all entry points to the town. Could it be funded by corporate advertising? I would use a park & ride on my side of town and did use the temporary one at Woodside. I am horrified that suitable locations for future park & ride schemes are not being identified and ring-fenced: allowing re-development of the Woodside Park & Ride was not forward-thinking!

How late would the park and ride run till?

I do not feel park and ride is the answer

I do not think it is viable or useful in B/S. Most retail customers come in for about 2/3 hours and go, they want to park nearby and put their shopping in the car and go. It only really works in a place like Cambridge where there is lots to see and it gives you a reason to be there several hours.



I don't want to pay at all to park simply to work here, sadly I now have to, thanks to permit parking for residents that do not own any part of the street where they live, which I also note tends to leave lots of empty parking spaces on the streets all day. so as little as possible because it is another tax on my wages.

I feel people will not use it as if I was going to use a park and ride I would travel to Cambridge or London to get better shopping. The only way to improve access and stop shops closing down and causing a ghost town in Bishop's Stortford is to make all car parking free.

I live in town and walk/cycle so not really relevant to me, but do recognise that there needs to be more affordable parking in the town for the workers who are often on a minimum wage, or not far above it and struggle with the lack of parking available.

I live on Stansted Road and while I feel Park and Ride will be good for BS, I will not be using it as I live and work close enough to walk to all parts of BS.

"I regret Park and Rides only work in larger retail centres where there is a very strong mixed retailer offer, i.e. good multiple and independent.

All current research is showing that retail space will shrink by around 20% in the next 5 years. It’s a bit "chicken and egg" situation.

The Town retail offer needs to be big enough to support the need to spend extra time and effort parking and riding, to give the shopper an “all day experience” it is I regret unlikely to ever be that in the small cramped Town.

The answer is to either find space on the existing plots (extra levels), make more use of free space that cost nothing to rent (roads that you have excluded drivers from using), acquire more land for parking (it appreciates in value).

Drivers are getting lazier by the year they want to park where the shop else they shop where they park - at home, and thereby will use the Town even less.

I think it’s disgusting the lack of free available parking for people working in Bishop’s Stortford.

I feel a park and ride service could benefit the town greatly as it would free up spaces for shoppers and hopefully reduce the amount of shop closures. I feel it needs to be at a very reasonable rate no more than 1.50 a day or a week pass for 5 pound or people will not use it

I think that the employers should also have some part in the costs.

I think the parking charges should be cheaper for long stay. They've gone up £2 in the last two years which is ridiculous.

I work from 8.00am, and I can leave at any time between 4.00pm to 8.00pm. So if there was any chance of me using the service it would need to have an extended period of service.

I work in BS and live in Puckeridge. I have often wanted to use public transport but the bus timetable is currently not sufficient. The mornings are fine but the evenings are a problem. The bus to Puckeridge leaves about 4.00pm and then after that next bus is 6.20. I have to get back for my childminder which causes problems as the buses are too infrequent. A park and ride scheme would be brilliant - what a great idea. Thank you.

I wouldn’t use the service as it would mean driving out of town and coming back in again, I also require my car in the town for work purposes.



If not commercially viable as a self-sustaining solution, then really a combination the first three options should be used, rather than isolating and targeting one source, as any shared subsidy would be easier to carry for each sector.

If the prices for the car parks in Stortford town hadn't been put up to a ridiculous amount there wouldn't be any need for a park and ride. I think park and ride is a good idea as long as it's not too expensive and doesn't increase yearly, especially at the same alarming rate as the car parks. It might also encourage more shoppers in to the town instead of driving them away like the parking problem has done recently.

If you look at Cambridge as an example they vary the frequency dependant on the time of day. When demand is high, have one every 10 minutes. During the day after say 10am they can be less frequent, one every 30 minutes.

I'm not convinced that a Park and Ride would work in a town the size of BS.

In order to make park and ride attractive the service needs to be fast, efficient and economical for employees like me earning around the minimum wage please. As efficient as the park and ride in Cambridge.

It would be viable commercially if marketed correctly.

Park and Ride has to be well located and affordably priced. People commuting into town from the Tesco’s side are able to park in the residential streets which are closer to the town centre and free.

Park and ride should be easily accessible from at least 2 entry points going into the town. I would not like to cross the town to park and then be bussed back, it also needs to start early so people who from 6am can use it.

REDUCE PARKING CHARGES! MAKE THE BUS FREE!

The cost of parking is crippling to those of us who work in the town earning a low retail wage, as well as independent retailers who rely on the shopper and don't have a national name to bring in the customers. Bishops Stortford should welcome independent retailers who will provide individuality and encourage shoppers to visit the town instead of heading elsewhere, and I feel a park and ride would be more beneficial nearer to the M11

The park and ride could only work if it runs every 10mins and from 8am till 8.30pm - 9pm to allow for shift workers, I see the benefits in freeing up the car parks so potential clients have more opportunity/chance of getting a car park space but my team all start at 8.15am and if they are working a late, don’t finish till 8pm to 8.30pm so they would need to get to their cars and back to their cars? Otherwise they wouldn’t park there, most of my team come from Harlow so they have to travel and I need to know they are safe coming to and from work.

The parking situation for workers and shoppers in Bishop’s Stortford is very bad, we have had a shop in Stortford for 12 years and seen trade drop hugely due to non-existent parking facilities.

We have a shop in Epping town where Tesco provide 3 hours free parking to any shopper and the council provide free parking at weekends, Bishop’s Stortford town centre will die if something isn't done soon.

The price of parking in Bishop's Stortford is already stupidly high in the majority of areas. There is not enough free parking, obviously it is understandable that the Town Centre charges, but even as you progress further out most places are not eligible to park unless being charged or have a time limit.



There is already a closed park & ride facility at Woodside Park so this should reduce the cost to set up. Alternatively, traffic congestion in Bishop's Stortford seems only to be an issue during term time. Maybe there should be parent drop off points created and then buses dropping children off at local schools so those who either miss the existing school buses, aren't entitled to them free of charge or don't live on the bus route can be dropped off away from the schools in the centre of town for transporting to and from school.

This would be great for me as our offices may be moving to the other side of town where there is no sufficient parking.

Town centre car parking charges should not increase to pay for a Park and Ride.

Town Centre parking should be for short term retail traffic only. Long term charges should be increased to make this uneconomical.

Very good idea but should be subsidised in a way that costs the people more as then people who do not use will be affected, Should be priced such that it covers costs only, not another way for someone to make money. £1.50 a head should surely be enough to do this if you can drive people to use it.

Whilst I agree in principal to Park and Ride, in practice I believe that it would be too expensive and that staff would not use it. I don't believe that Bishop's Stortford is big enough (or busy enough) to warrant this service. As an independent retailer we do not always work the usual 9am to 5.30pm opening hours - we are often still in the shop after 6pm so we would need the service to run outside normal working hours. We would jeopardise our customer service if we had to abandon the shop in order to get the last bus to the car park. In addition, I would object to raising car parking charges in the Town Centre - we need people to think that it is worth coming to Bishop's Stortford and higher parking charges will not be helpful. I apologise for being rather negative but I don't think that a Park and Ride scheme will be the answer to our problems.

With all the development that is proposed for Bishops Stortford, perhaps the developers both residential and commercial should support the park &ride



FOCUS GROUP ON ENVIRONMENT AND GREEN SPACES


In attendance:

David Glass

Ralph Gilbert

Clive Risby

Murray White

Unity Harrington

Malcolm Allan

Rob Francis

Philip Demonti

Dave Webber

Hugh Coe

Peter Smith

Mike Allen

Frances Clapp

KEY ASSETS

Well used PROW #1 and 2

Will lose with new development – loss of ‘country feel’

Concern over adding cycle use onto PROW

Make new footpaths formed PROWs

Should be adopted

ALLOTMENTS (FORMER)

Neglected

But a wildlife asset – make a local nature reserve?

Footpath #63

Conflict with traffic

Link ASR development into the existing network of footpaths

Potential to move allotments from Cricketfield Lane to Dane O’Coys.

Allotments need vehicular access to bring tools (and won’t leave in shed because of theft)

THE MEADS

Several well used paths should be adopted as PROW

Land at back of Northgate Centre

No longer a school so cannot be a school playing field

Should be protected



Area off Patmore Close

Local green space

The Meads – Henderson planning permission

Appropriate body to take over green space ownership following development

No vehicles down Dane O’Coys Road

POSSIBLE ACTIONS

Preservation of Hoggate’s Wood

Use by people will destroy

An ancient wood – need an inventory

Local green space designation to protect

With a buffer zone

Transfer ownership – a trust?

Have one trust to own and manage all green spaces?

Birchanger Trust is a good model

Concern over manpower of a trust

Could be owned by TC or EHDC – but does this guarantee protection?

TC is preferable

Funds are an issue – raise precept?

Look at good practice elsewhere

Enhancing use of The Meads – report accompanying Henderson application

Signage would increase usage

Public noticeboard

POLICY REQUIREMENTS

Links with wider area e.g. National Cycle Network – stops beyond Bishop’s Stortford

Make sure new developments link up to existing network of footpaths, bridleways and cycle paths

Protect Cricketfield Lane facilities as a Green Open Space

Retain as a suitable sports facility

Not reference to the fact that HCC is responsible for PROW

Hedgerows

Protect existing and provide new hedgerows to support existing wildlife that is potentially affected by development



COMMENTS FROM YEW TREE PLACE RESIDENTS JULY 2013



FOCUS GROUP ON HOUSING AND DESIGN


In attendance:

Chris Bowden – Navigus Planning

Murray White

Colin Woodward

Lorraine Evans

Mark Montgomery, Herts Police: Crime Prevention Design Advisor

Sue Belo

DESIGN ISSUES

Crime Prevention

Herts has low crime rate for burglary.

More new properties being built to Secured by Design (SBD) standards and police and working with

EHC on refurbished properties to SBD standards.

SBD is crime prevention that is proven to work.

Affordable homes are currently built to higher standards than market homes but the cost of SBD is

equivalent to an extra £170 per property. The commercial cost to upgrade later would be £2000 per

home.

Research by Building Societies in 2005 showed that fear of crime and wanting a secure environment

was foremost across all buyer categories.

Also research on the carbon effect of crime has been shown to be considerable – a burglary can be

measured as 2.5 tonnes of carbon.

SBD has been shown to reduce burglary by 62%.

Gated Communities

Gated communities may encourage fear of crime that does not exist.

Hertfordshire is one of the safest communities in the country and burglary is no longer considered a

priority as cases are rare.

Vehicle crimes are more common.

Street Lighting

Adequate street lighting can lower crime by 17%.

There is an environmentally sound lighting system called Green Lighting based on LED technology

which uses 18w but increases to 100w on detection of movement.



The police have produced a document called ‘Lighting Against Crime’ which is relevant. It is currently

in the process of being rewritten.

The best lighting is ambient lighting with a colour rendition of 60 based on white light – this provides

uniformity across the site. This is important as your night vision goes when you go from a lit area to

an unlit area.

Spatial Strategy

Garden suburb approach well-liked.

Foresthall Park is seen as poor design and layout. There are problems with shared surfaces and

narrow roads which do not help road safety and speed reduction.

St Michael’s Mead is seen as good design and interesting mix of properties.

Bin provision is important as bins can be a fire hazard if against a wall and can be used for crime.

Best design is where bin provision is incorporated into each property so that it can be returned into

position by the refuse collectors. Bins left out can indicate a person is on holiday and invite crime.

Parking

Police recommend no rear parking courts. Often there are no side windows looking on to the court

and they can encourage anti-social behaviour, e.g. graffiti.

St Michael’s Mead has drive-through archways which are better and some houses have electric

doors leading to carport and garage. Police say these can be problematic as people leave them open

and allow rear access to burglars and thieves.

Vehicle crime is a problem so people like to park where they can keep an eye on their car (often

their most valuable asset after their home).

Garages need to be large enough but there needs to be adequate off-road parking as well.

Other

Safe cycling routes are needed both within any new development and to the town and also safe

storage facilities for bikes within the town.

Can a percentage of land/properties be made available for self-build? Other developments have

enabled this in the past, e.g. Dukes Rise in Bishop’s Park, and past developments in Ware. Contact

self-build manufacturers such as Scandia-Hus and Potton Homes to ascertain likely interest.

Actions

Policies HDP05 and HDP07 – Mark Montgomery will provide suggested wording to make these more

specific. HDP07 can refer to Lighting Against Crime standards.

Murray/Sue to contact Guy McCallan, Traffic Management Officer ([email protected]) regarding urban design and street layout.



FOCUS GROUP ON TOWN CENTRE

Meeting held on 7th November 2013

In attendance:

James Parker

Sue Belo

Murray White

Nicholas Elvidge, Legal & General Property: Senior Asset Manager

NB. L&G are effectively the proprietors of Jackson Square shopping centre.

It forms part of their ‘managed fund’ portfolio with assets of several billion pounds.

Specialises in commercial property, much with local authorities, mostly retail shops and leisure but

also offices and industrial units.

Why did L&G invest in the B/S town centre?

B/S has a favourable demographic with a high number of ‘wealthy achievers’ (top 2 percentile)

Jackson Square is at the heart of B/S

Understand there will be significant % growth in population of B/S

Qualities sought after for a successful shopping centre

Good links to the rest of the town

High proportion of quality retail (Next, New Look, Fat Face etc.)

Shop premises of a useful size and shape

Somewhere where you complete your whole visit in one stop, i.e. varied shops and eateries to allow

a complete experience for the whole day without having to clock watch for parking expiry

Concentrated around one centre rather than strung out too far along different streets

Continuity of revenue with long leases, ideally 5 - 10 years (good for landlord)

Views on Henderson

Has doubts whether the proposal is viable at the moment

Weighted too much towards retail and there is isn’t the requirement for it yet

Issues and opportunities for Jackson Square and the town centre

More fashion offerings

Some awkward shaped premises on join between the two parts (original and later addition)

Links to parking could be better



Being able to step up to bigger stores, like Debenhams or John Lewis, but insufficient demand

currently

Improve branding of the centre itself (work is ongoing at entrances to Jackson Square to help with

this)

Anecdotal evidence suggests footfall is increased by tourists coming in via Stansted when they have

a few hours to kill, but with limited purchasing volume

Countering growth of online retail

Concentrate on products that cannot easily be described digitally

Concentrate on products people like to look, touch and feel

Concentrate on products where buyers value face to face advice

List of questions was left with Mr Elvidge to prompt further thoughts.



FOCUS GROUP ON TOWN CENTRE – SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Invitation to Focus Group meeting



Town Centre Questionnaire

As a result of the poor attendance to the Town Centre Focus Groups, it was decided to arrange for a

link to the following questionnaire to be sent to those invited to the Focus Group, asking them to

complete the questionnaire online.

An email was sent to retailers in Bishop’s Stortford town centre, to members of the Bishop’s

Stortford Chamber of Commerce and to retailers in the Hockerill area.

The Town Centre

As part of the Neighbourhood Planning process, we are currently consulting people regarding issues

relating to the Town Centre. We want to get feedback and suggestions from as many people as

possible so please answer as many of the following questions as you can.

What are the main issues facing the town centre currently?

How could the planning (development control) system help?

Are there types of retail or leisure development that should be encouraged?

What are the opportunities for development? Are there areas underutilised or that detract from the appeal of the

town centre?

What kind of developments should be prioritised?

What kind of developments should be avoided?

What do you think about the concept of shared space between motor vehicles, cycles and pedestrians where no

one has priority?

What would be the benefits?

What would be the disadvantages?

If there were to be shared space in the town centre, where should this be located?

What other traffic modifications need to be made, in your view?



Is parking adequate? Is it the right kind and is it in the right places?

What are the potential solutions to parking and how can the planning system help?

What are your views on Park & Ride?

If Park & Ride is not viable, would a shuttle bus from the Neighbourhood Plan area to the town centre and

station be more likely to succeed?

Are any other town centre facilities needed?

What are your views on Hockerill?

Name

Organisation

Email

Thank you for completing this questionnaire. If you would like to find out more about the Bishop's Stortford

Neighbourhood Plan for Silverleys and Meads Wards, you can do so by visiting our webpages at

www.stortfordplan.org where you can also sign up to our newsletter or you can follow the plan on Facebook and

Twitter Alternatively, you can email your comments to [email protected].

Submit

http://www.stortfordplan.org/https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bishops-Stortford-Neighbourhood-Plan/107613452780812https://twitter.com/stortfordplanmailto:[email protected]



Summary of Findings from Town Centre Questionnaire

What are the main issues facing the town centre currently?

Parking xxxxxxxxx

Closing stores/too many empty premises xxxxx

Too many houses xx

Not enough parking xxxxxx

Too expensive parking xxxxxx

Traffic flow/congestion x

Lack of things to do other than pubs, cafes, restaurants xx

Proliferation of national food chains x

Business rates xxxxx

Prohibitive rents for retailers x

Not enough interesting shops/independent retailers xxxxx

Not enough retailers like Debenhams, John Lewis x

Too many charity shops x

Indifference from both Councils on the need to promote the town’s shopping xx

Lack of market x

How could the planning system help?

Make parking more affordable xx

Release land e.g. some of Sworder’s Field for car parking xx

Provide better parking x

Consider more multi-storey car parks x

Council should control mix of retail outlets xxxx

Council should control size of units x

Look at the whole problem and attract what retail we need x

Disallow unfair charity competition x

Offer rate-related incentives to local businesses x



Are there types of retail/leisure development that should be encouraged?

Independent retailers xxxxxxx

Play barn for little children x

Sports facilities with general public access xx

Activities based around the river – café culture x

Department store, teen fashion and more mid-range fashion xx

More small shops x

Good shops xxx

Farmers market/better weekday/weekend market x

What are the opportunities for development? Are there areas underutilised or that detract from the appeal of the town centre?

South side of the town – a large hotel x

South of the High Street, including Health Centre xxxx

Cinema complex x

Opposite the Post Office x

Pearson shop x

Station area/Flour Mill site xxx

Multi-storey car park xxx

More parking x

Better market x

More management and promotion of town centre needed rather than physical development

x

Empty stores at Riverside x

What kind of developments should be prioritised?

Those that deal with chronic parking problem xxxxx

Good quality, centre hotel xx

Quality department store xx

Town centre housing xx



Retail xxx

Small shops xx

Surgery x

Offices x

Multi-use residential/commercial x

Nice public toilets, trees and plants to brighten the town centre x

What kind of developments should be avoided?

More chain stores x

Any that take away parking x

National food chains/supermarkets xxx

Charity shops xx

Cheap retail stores x

Developments that attract more congestion without improvements to roads xx

Flats xxx

Large ugly blocks

Coffee shops xx

Estate agents x

Houses x

Banks x

Evening venues x

Outside retail xx

What do you think about the concept of shared space between motor vehicles, cycles and pedestrians where no one has priority?

Bad idea xxxxxx

Possible/worth trying xxx

Good idea xxx

Market days only x

Main retail area only x



Already happening in practice x

Would work better if parking nearby x

Not sure it would work because of route restrictions/other practicalities xx

It has worked elsewhere x

What would be the benefits?

Better footfall xx

None/I don’t know xxx

Quicker banking xx

Easy in-out shopping x

A certain amount of traffic keeps a street alive x

Drivers can see what the High Street has to offer x

Safety x

What would be the disadvantages?

Lack of safety xxxx

Vehicle noise xx

Lack of street furniture x

Electric cars cannot be heard x

Congested streets xxxx

Overstay parking x

Access problems x

If there were shared space in the town centre, where should this be located?

Centre x

Anywhere it would work x

Nowhere xxxx

South Street xxx

Potter Street xxxx

North Street xxx



Don’t know xx

Causeway to Hockerill Lights xx

What other traffic modifications need to be made, in your view?

Better flow of traffic in and out of town during rush hour xx

Greater capacity though town to prevent tailback at Hockerill Lights x

More parking xx

Traffic circulating via the road running in front of The Fountain and Cinema should be redirected and the area pedestrianized

x

Adequate pick up facility outside of school sites & stop building multiple schools on the same road as rush hour is a nightmare!

x

Hockerill lights phasing needs to change to suit traffic flow xxx

Complete ring road x

Make Bell’s Hill one-way xx

Have constant left turn at lights near Bridge pub x

No traffic South St or North St during any day, on evening and nights x

Pedestrianize whole town x

Widen bridge at Station Rd and improve Station Rd for better access to car parks x

Review of Rye Street x

Review of bypass x

Review of Hockerill lights x

Improve route into multi-storey x

Is parking adequate? Is it the right kind and is it in the right place?

No – too expensive xxxxxxx

Not enough xxxxxx

Need more multi-storey xxxx

Need more parking in the south of the town x

Need free “Park & Stride” for workers prepared to walk x

Need to stop building on existing car parks x



Need to allow more parking on streets x

Need to allow more free parking, e.g. 2 hours xx

Controlled residents’ parking has made situation worse x

What are the potential solutions to parking and how can the planning system help?

Park & Ride xx

More spaces xx

Cheaper parking xxxx

Free parking/Free 30 minute bays xxxx

Discounts for locals x

Make existing car parks multi-storey xxx

Improve the bus service x

Multi-storey at Goods Yard for commuters and shoppers xx

Substantial multi-storey just off Rye Street x

More multi-storey or underground x

Allow more on-street parking xx

The Council only thinks about making money, not the overall working of the town x

What are your views on Park & Ride?

Good x

Not popular/won’t be used xxxxx

Allow the football and rugby clubs each to host one and share revenue x

Would not work in a small town xxxxx

Would only work for those who live outside the town x

Plan for Park & Ride but leave land unused until established as viable x

Would need to be free or cheap and a great service to work x

Need to help Thorley and St Michaels Mead developments first xx

May work for workers but not for shoppers x



If Park & Ride is not viable, would a shuttle bus from the Neighbourhood Plan area to the Town Centre and station be more likely to succeed?

No xxxxx

Would depend of frequency of buses x

More use to elderly than others x

Would require survey of potential users x

Yes xx

Possibly x

Could combine with Park & Ride and offer both x

Don’t know x

Only until the subsidy runs out! x

Are any other town centre facilities needed?

General access sports facilities x

Indoor sports hall x

Facilities for teenagers x

Hotel x

Department store xx

Picnic areas/seating areas xx

Toilets xx

Improved paving x

Cycle lanes x

McDonalds x

Job Centre x

A town centre manager xx

Fewer chains x

A local bobby on Thursdays and Saturdays x

What are your views on Hockerill?

Needs a bypass x



Too much congestion/bottle neck xxxx

Horrendous traffic lights x

I avoid it xx

Congestion problems need to be addressed properly and prioritised xxx

Needs pedestrian crossings x

Needs intelligent traffic lights system that works xx

Very pretty x

Too busy x

Shops need pulling down to allow left filter to town centre x

It a historical site and too many historical buildings have been pulled down in the town

x

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Examination Copy 28th April 2014 (Draft 2) · Coke Gearing Richard Coke Next Step, Bishop's...

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Transcript of Examination Copy 28th April 2014 (Draft 2) · Coke Gearing Richard Coke Next Step, Bishop's...