Headline Results from the Lewes Neighbourhood Plan Visioning Event held on 4 th June 2015

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Headline Results from the Lewes Neighbourhood Plan Visioning Event held on 4 th June 2015"

Elijah Waters
5 years ago
Views:

1 Headline Results from the Lewes Neighbourhood Plan Visioning Event held on 4 th June 2015

2 Teenagers Task 01 Businesses & Employers Pensioners & Empty-Nesters No communal area with free Wi-fi to do homework No dedicated cinema Shortage of starter-jobs Need local apprenticeship opportunities Potential loss of the skate-house Starfish (recording studios) is run by volunteers so also at risk Improve public transport around Lewes Lack of night-life No place to meet that is not a pub The hang out in Eastgate, by the skate-park and behind Tesco Nutty Wizard Youth Café Introduce a new chill space? All-night venue? Music venues for live acts and bands Encourage teenagers to enjoy the countryside Encourage interaction between youth groups and other age groups Parking is an issue for local shops Parking is an issue around the Malling area for businesses staff Business rates are high Reduced bus services Online retail shopping is a threat Supermarkets are a threat Influx of retail chains Very few local food businesses i.e. butchers or green grocers Losing shops to housing (change of use) Improve public transport around Lewes Shops in Western Road have low footfall Encouraging greater footfall from the precinct to the bottleneck Affordable childcare Broadband and mobile phone signals Lack of rail access to businesses and employees in the Weald via Uckfield Lots of zero-hours contracts Lewes is wealthy & attractive Artists & creative industries are valuable to the town Introduce flexible workshop spaces for emerging businesses Vibrant artistic community Centralised, affordable space for small businesses Reduced bus services & routes Cut-backs in day centres Pavements too narrow Heavy vehicular traffic flow Nearly all shops are at the bottom of the hill Pensioner enclaves only at the fringes of the town Lack of public toilets Improve public transport around Lewes Health & proximity of GP practices Good community Lots of activities/societies Buses in the evenings to Nevill, Malling & Landport Victoria Hospital is valuable, can it be used more for other activities? More appropriate housing needed (e.g. size, space, access) Better connected access to the countryside Better use of the library & the space around it

3 Young people without children House rental prices too high and as a consequence people move out of Lewes Multi-generation households Lack of affordable housing Rail prices & frequency No night life (e.g. more to do in Brighton) Busy with careers Local jobs Introduce starter homes Introduce an over-night railway system Task 01 Families with young children Shortage of crèche s especially whilst shopping Cost of childcare is an issue Parent and toddler groups House rental prices too high Lack of affordable housing Lack of housing choice Council house waiting list is too long Pavements are too narrow Lack of public toilets Better public transport between schools Available school places Local jobs Traffic dominates entire town centre Introduce safer road crossings (i.e. more dropped curbs) Grange Gardens The Paddock Play areas Coffee shops Visitors & Tourists Parking is an issue parking scheme very hostile Not enough Hotel or B+B accommodation No cycle hire facilities Pavements too narrow Heavy vehicular traffic flow Lack of public toilets Lack of rail access to the Weald via Uckfield Lack of rail services in the late evenings from Victoria and Brighton Tourist bus access to top of town Hop-on, hop-off circular bus route Introduce coach parking Introduce signage from transport stations to the South Downs Info booths or phone apps Introduce disability-friendly facilities and access, including for those that are visually and aurally impaired Better use of river Need a central Tourist Information Centre Combined entry tickets on attractions Refurbish local hotels (e.g. Crown & White Hart) Cinema coming shortly? Theatre Lewes is a historic place to visit

4 Students Task 01 Children Other Comments Rental prices too high Only three venues for this age in Phoenix, and these are to be demolished No recreational facilities Gap in bus passes e.g. you pay full fare at 16 years old Shortage of starter-jobs Broadband and mobile phone signals Lack of late-night buses Good sports facilities for the size of the town Introduce a late-night library service Introduce a study or chill space Many U3A activities Primary school and college Lewes attracts foreign students Not enough holiday clubs Not enough to do for ages 8-13 years Encourage children to enjoy the countryside Air pollution is an issue along High Street, Fisher Street & Station Road Lack of public toilets Play facilities are good Introduce safe, car-free access to schools, play areas and shops Good events at All Saints Pells Pool outdoor swimming pool Difficulty getting appointments at the Doctor s People with disabilities need recognition St Mary s Social Centre potential redevelopment of the site Use churches for other things such as folk music Introduce more frequent local buses Introduce cycle routes Introduce safe bike parking More or better provision of education Introduce more social housing Landport Youth Centre

5 Top 10 Qualities Task 02 Top 10 Task Historic 1. Housing Growth 2. Attractive 3. Unique 4. Independent 5. Distinctive 6. Creative 7. Fun 8. Inspiring 9. Friendly 10. Green (visual/landscape) 2. Rail Services & Local Transport 3. Traffic Impacts 4. Employment Space workshop/industrial space 5. Preservation of Heritage Assets 6. Schools & Education Provision 7. Pressure on Health Services 8. Decline in Range & Quality of Shops 9. New Architectural Quality 10. Non-School Youth

6 Where could limited housing growth be accommodated? 1. Develop west of Old Malling Way and Monks Way as zero-carbon social housing (7) 2. Develop on East Sussex County Council land and the land to the south of this site as zero-carbon social housing (7) 3. Develop all of Phoenix Industrial Estate (6) 4. Develop on land to the west of Houndean Rise and to the south of this site (3) 5. Develop land on the junction of South Downs Road and Mayhew Way (3) 6. Develop on the allotments south of Montacute Road (3) 7. Develop on Astley House on Spital Road (3) 8. Develop between Waitrose and the River Ouse high density (2) 9. Develop on the car park to the south of the River Lodge Surgery (2) 10. Develop on the North Street car park (2) 11. Develop wedge of land between A27 and Cockshut Road (2) 12. Re-develop Springman House on North Street (2) 13. Develop on the car park between Market Lane and West Street (2) 14. Infill large back gardens along Brighton Road already vehicular access here (2) 15. Develop land off Earwig Corner (2) 16. Develop on the Tesco car park (2) 17. Small lines of development between the A27 and Ham Lane (2) 18. Develop Old School Houses on the junction of Spital Road/A277 (2) 19. Develop between the old Magistrates Court building s car park and the river (2) 20. Develop north of the A27 between Kingston Road and Juggs Road affordable housing (2) 21. NW extension to Landport social housing 22. Develop green space between The Gallops and Spital Road 23. Develop to the west of Foundry Lane 24. Develop behind Malling Community Centre 25. Develop on South Malling Primary School land? 26. Develop on land behind Lewes Library 27. Develop units north of Sussex Police Headquarters 28. Develop along A27, west of Juggs Road 29. Develop along Kingston Road to the east of Spring Barn Farm Park 30. Music venue south of Southerham? 31. Housing development south of Southerham 32. House-boats along the SW of the River Ouse 33. Develop flat-roofed offices along A Develop land north of Hounden Rise 35. Redevelop Chantry Cottage? 36. Develop on industrial estate car parks Task 03

7 Top 10 Places That Could Be Better the red dots 1. County Hall is an eyesore 2. Junctions within the town are unsuitable for safe pedestrian crossing 3. Roundabouts along Malling Street are obstructions to all 4. Nevill area is designed for cars and too uniform in architecture and design 5. Flats along Grange Road are not visually appealing 6. Industrial Estates are ugly and soulless 7. Phoenix area is messy 8. Albion House poor architecture 9. Mountfield Road is dreary and needs some attention 10. Large developments should include an even mix of work/live/play Task 04 Top 10 Places To Be Proud Of the green dots 1. The variety of access points onto the South Downs that lead to the many recreational grounds such as the chalk grasslands to the north of the town 2. The variety of churches within Lewes and their surrounding open spaces 3. Landport & Lewes Leisure Centres and Pells Swimming Pool 4. The many allotments in and around Lewes 5. The Priory ruins 6. The golf course 7. The choice of green space within the town such as Grange Gardens, Baxters Field and The Paddock 8. Access to the River Ouse and the walks available on nearby river land 9. The qualities and characters of South Street, Keere Street and the bottleneck between Rotten Row and High Street 10. The history and heritage of Harveys It s much easier to mark the positive rather than the negative!

8 Access & Movement Issues Positives Task 06 The streets between the High Street and Southover Road and Lansdown Place are lovely places to walk. These streets are also surrounded by the Tourist Walking Trail that circulates from the Priory area. Very pretty walk along the High Street Victoria Hospital many people travel to here via bus or walk. Negatives Fisher Street has very narrow pavements. Fisher Street/West Street/Little East Street/Malling Street are... horrible places to walk. Bus Station and surrounding crossings and pedestrian access needs improving. County Hall lots of people going to work here, many in cars. Station Road and Southover Road junction is horrendous for pedestrians. Cycling needs far more attention. Currently there is no connected cycle route through Lewes. Many travel through town to the Sussex Down College and Lewes Leisure Centre. Need better infrastrcture. Nice walk from the Railway Station to Old Malling Way through the centre of the town via Station Road, Fisher Street and St John s Hill. Commuters travel long the A277 and towards the station. A277/Winterbourne Hollow junction is... too noisy and smelly for pedestrians and dangerous. Offham Road traffic is too fast and pavements too narrow, more crossings are needed.

9 In years time, the edge of Lewes will be... be as picturesque as it is today but with better access and some additional development along the A27 and north of Lewes. We expect park & ride facilities to be established and new river-access facilities.. be very much the same because of natural constraints, National Park requirements and the Railway Land Nature Reserve. Access and signage will improve but pollution and traffic will worsen. include far better signage for all routes, not just in written form but destinations clearly indicated and informative of routes. Task 07 be firm and screened. Gateways to the South Downs and views will be provided alongside river walks and lots of signage. There will also be disabled access to Egret s Way and appropriate car-parking. be unchanged except for Southerham Guy Pit but will be full of natural connections between the town and its surroundings. This will provide multiple benefits from the use of land including generation of renewable energy of a pleasing blend of architecture and environmental features. be what it is currently; a restriction of hills and flood plains. be where it is now. Housing needs will provoke an increase in density because of the geographical constraints. be contained in a tightly defined boundary with no sprawl. There will be turbines in the River Ouse for energy generation, river-heat exchange systems and chalk filtering water. The Chalk Downs need protecting. Cycle routes in and out of town will be increased a route is currently needed to the north of the town. There will be better management of shared space (horse and walking tracks) and an increase in wind-turbines along the river and Downs. Existing pylons and cables should be sunk underground and recreation along the river should be encouraged.

10 Top 15 most frequently referenced local services as being valuable for the town Task Lewes Leisure Centre & Grounds (8) 2. All Saints Centre festivals, cinema, parties, events (8) 3. The Paddock & Baxters Field (7) 4. Lewes Football Club (7) 5. Grange Gardens (6) 6. St. Anne s Church (6) 7. St. John Church & grounds (5) 8. The Railway Land Wildlife Trust (5) 9. Pells Pool (5) 10. Malling recreational grounds (4) 11. Town Hall meetings, exhibitions & markets (4) 12. St. Mary s Supporters Club (4) 13. St. Thomas Church (4) 14. Pells Primary School (4) 15. Priory School (4) Other Important Local Services / Facilities Golf Course (3) Mini recycling areas around Lewes district (3) Malling Community Centre (3) Sussex Downs College (3) Bus Station (3) Saint Pancras Primary School (3) Southover Church (3) Lewes Castle and grounds & bowling green (3) Lewes New Primary School (3) Southover Primary School (3) Very few venue spaces in Lewes, just booked one, but there was nothing free until 19th December! anon. June 2015.

Public Realm & Landscape

Town Centre Context Public Realm & Landscape 1. Public realm in the Town Centre varies significantly in quality. Areas of particularly good quality public realm are located around the Minster and outside