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Barkingside Town Centre Improvement Plan
Barkingside Town Centre Improvement Plan - Setting an agenda
for future prosperity
Results of the consultation - 22nd December 2009
Background
North-east London is undergoing some of the most rapid and
fundamental changes in recent years, with the arrival of the
Olympics, Crossrail and wholesale changes in working practices and
urban lifestyles.
Barkingside’s past success as a town centre does not guarantee
its future prosperity, so it is important that a clear vision for
improvement is established to encourage an attractive, functioning
and vibrant town centre for the coming years.
Why not get involved!
An initial phase of consultation with representatives of key
community and other stakeholder groups has now been
completed.
Below is a summary of the initial ideas and feedback received at
this consultation on the basis of which we are currently developing
a draft of the Improvement Plan.
Have your say
We would like you to read through the material provided
below and forward your thoughts to:
Matthew Maple,
Planning and Regeneration,
LB Redbridge,
Town Hall,
128-142 High Road,
Ilford,
Essex, IG1 1DD
In addition to this we will present the draft
Improvement plan at:
Fullwell Cross Library
(Aldborough Room)
Barkingside High Street, IG6
2EA
7.00-9.00pm, Monday 1st
February 2010
Your comments will be summarised on this website and be
incorporated in the development of the final plan in March
2010. The draft plan is now available below. Ideally these
should be printed on double sided paper.
Copies are available for reference at Fullwell Cross
Library.
A questionnaire is also available
Comments should be returned to the address above by Friday 12th
February 2010.
Progress: Approach to consultation
Earlier this year, the Council embarked on the preparation of an
Improvement Plan for Barkingside, assisted by consultants, studio |
REAL. Objectives for
the plan can be viewed here (PDF, 31k). Following a phase
of research and development of ideas in August, the Council and
studio | REAL commenced a period of consultation which will last
until the end of December.
| Timetable |
|
|
| Phase 1 |
Project start
|
April 2009
|
| |
Baseline research |
Apr – Jun 2009
|
| |
Development of initial ideas |
Jul – Aug 2009
|
| |
Phase 1 Consultation: Testing of initial ideas
with local groups
|
Sep / Oct 2009 |
| Phase 2 |
Development of initial ideas into a draft Improvement Plan |
Oct/Nov 2009 |
| |
Phase 2 Consultation: Public presentation /
consultation on draft Plan
|
Dec 2009 |
| |
Project completion / finalisation of plan
|
Jan 2010 |
| |
Project completion/finalisation of plan
|
Mar 2010 |
In the preparation of initial concept and
ideas for the town centre, the consultants used the results
of earlier consultation events which included:
- To improve the environment including more or better public
spaces and improved management and maintenance regimes
- To improve the quality and variety of shops
- To improve health and community facilities
- To address issues relating to congestion, public transport and
the lack of convenient car parking
- To improve public safety
- To improve the library
The ideas were tested with a range of people
which were felt to be representative of the wider Barkingside
community at workshops and events during September and October.
Their feedback and comments will serve to steer the development of
the draft Improvement Plan in Phase 2 of the project. This was
presented at a public meeting on the 10
December to provide an opportunity for the wider
community of Barkingside to comment on the proposals prior to the
development of the final Plan.
Phase 1 Consultation – approach and
results
To get a balanced view of the requirements
for the town centre, the Council wanted to engage with a range of
different people. A list of ‘groups’ was developed.
These were:-
- Young People
- Older People
- Families
- Faith Groups
- Businesses
- Shoppers / visitors
- Young Professionals
- Environmental group
- Transport specialists
- Crime and personal safety experts
- Politicians
Organisations were identified to represent
these groups and a series of events were organised to provide a
snapshot of the views of that group. This included:
- Two workshops, one for non-business groups
(25 September) and one for businesses (28 September). A
total of 20 groups (including all businesses) were invited
with 19 people from 9 groups attending. A number of invitees that
could not attend the workshops said that they would respond to
information provided on the website.
- Open Doors meeting: We consulted with some 12
young people and 3 youth leaders on their views for the town
- Pie and Mash: We consulted with a random
selection of around 30 visitors and shoppers in and outside
Danny’s Pie and Mash shop on the High Street, with 21 completing
the feedback forms
- To supplement the poor attendance of
businesses at the workshops, we visited a random selection of 6
shops owners in the High Street
- We consulted with 2 representatives from
Redbridge Disability Association who also added comments on behalf
of Redbridge Sustainability Forum
- We met with Voices of Experience at one of their meetings
- We consulted Barkingside Scouts
In addition to this, a leaflet (PDF,
219k) was delivered to 10,500 local residents and all
businesses along the High Street and the web page was published to
provide information regarding the project and invite comments on
the issues and aspirations for the town centre.
Each of the event were structured slightly
differently to match the target audience and the likely time
available of the respondent. However, in general views were sought
under the following headings:
General discussion
about the town centre
The workshops / interviews were structured
using a combination of general and more directed questions related
to three headings:-
- A Prosperous Town Centre
- An Attractive Town Centre
- An Accessible Town Centre
The initial ideas
In addition to this, the initial ideas were
presented to the participants to generate discussion, both
specifically about those and more generally about the town
centre.
The ‘Town
Centre Handbook’ (PDF, 5.21mb) is available to view
here.
Questionnaire
A questionnaire
(PDF, 25k) was provided relating to each of these two
sections for a quantitative response.
Feedback to date
Approximately 100 people have been involved in
the first stage of consultation and provided important guidance to
the project team in adjusting and refining the original ideas to be
used in developing the draft Improvement Plan. An indication
of some of the feedback (PDF,
53k) has been provided to the team and some of the likely
actions arising from this.
Approximately 100 people attended the Planning and Regeneration
Scrutiny Committee meeting on 10th December 2009 where the draft
plan was presented to Councillors and people living and working in
Barkingside. A wide range of comments were received which form part
of the phase 2 consultation.
Useful Links
Photo used by kind permission of Roger Evans
Associates Ltd (REAL)