REMINDER: LAST FEW DAYS to HAVE YOUR SAY
Further to our recent petition update, this is a reminder that you have until Sunday 12 July to respond to the consultation.
In general, we’re very happy with the Council and Hopkins’ Architects plans to pedestrianise the riverfront of the development site and to re-provide resident and business parking along the East end of the Embankment and in nearby roads.
There is however scope to improve visitor parking, and the access & servicing of the site.
VISITOR PARKING
1. The Civic Centre (25 spaces) should be available for visitor parking ALL WEEKEND.
2. The Farmers Market should be relocated from the uninspiring location of the Holly Road car park to the new riverside square where footfall will be much greater. This will free up approx 40 visitor spaces on Saturdays.
ACCESS and SERVICING
1. Provision of a large vehicle loading bay on King Street immediately in front of the new development is wrong in many ways (see our artist’s impression above). It will take away a large amount of the pavement, it will obstruct the new Gateway to the Riverside (residents want increased permeability, not a truck park), and it will be a hazard to pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.
2. The King Street stores are best serviced from the rear service road, access to which will be opened up from Water Lane. The service road should only be for service vehicles, not for all traffic exiting the riverside. The reduced levels of traffic (because of reduced car parking) should exit the riverside directly by Water Lane on to King Street. Therefore the whole length of Water Lane needs to be two-way to facilitate this and the exit widened to allow vehicles to merge into the inside lane on King Street (with through traffic in the outside lane). To ensure safety it will be a shared surface with pedestrian priority and a 10mph speed limit. Egress via Water Lane will avoid congestion in the service road from service vehicles obstructing all the other traffic, as well as avoiding the twisty narrow exits onto Wharf Lane and King Street for most vehicles.
Have Your Say on the Council’s website: Council Consultation
More information is available on Our Previous Update
#ParkNotCarPark