More High Street ideas blocked by county and borough
Wednesday, 28th November 2012.
Haverhill Town Councillors heard last night of more roadblocks by borough and county councils in the search for solutions to Haverhill's High Street traffic issues.
Town clerk Will Austin reported to last night's town council meeting on progress - or lack of it - in their recent quest for ways to prevent illegal parking and driving in the street.
Their preferred solution - full pedestrianisation with barriers during the day - is now a distant dream since Suffolk County Council's transport supremo Cllr Guy McGregor decided it should not go ahead.
Mr Austin had asked for Cllr McGregor's reasons for his decision, and was told his main fear was that the traffic regulation order would fail at a public inquiry - due to objections from businesses - at a cost to of £50,000.
Mr Austin asked if another organisation were to underwrite this possible loss, whether the county would change its view and was told it would not.
Another concern was that they would be 'unable to address the concerns of local businesses'. Mr Austin has now written to inform the county of recent plans from Gurteens which might open up the possibility of alternative access to their site.
With the county 'digging its heels in', Mr Austin said, he had worked with PC Will Wright on short-term measures which Haverhill's police chief, Insp Peter Ferrie, described as 'imaginative'.
Among these were new siting of planters, bollards and street furniture to prevent parking, promotional activity such as a high-profile clamping to show what could happen, amobile speed camera, making Swan lane one-way as far as Mill Road, and even reversing the one-way direction in the high street.
Some town councillors had met the businesses affected and although only seven out of 92 invited turned up, Mr Austin said it was a positive meeting.
One of the main requests to come from it was that measures shouls include a temporary period of free short-term parking in the car parks - say for half an hour - to last a couple of weeks or so to see the effect.
Mr Austin had contacted St Edmundsbury Borough Council about this and had received a flat 'no',on the grounds it would set a precedent for other parts of the borough.
Mr Austin said the idea that all parking across a whole diverse area should be exactly the same was absurd.
"Consistency is not appropriate across the borough," he said. "I was told this by the new St Edmundsbury chief executive when I asked if the Arts Centre could have equivalent funding to the Apex.
"I was told this was not appropriate to the Arts Centre because Bury and Haverhill are not similar places. Well, they can't have it both ways."
Cllr Maureen Byrne, who is also a borough councillor said she would see if a change of mind over free parking could be achieved.
She criticised an advertisement by Chapmans which showed their van parked on the pavement in High Street. She thought this was taking the mickey out of the town council. "I'm afraid that is the attitude," she said.
Councillors agreed they did not want to see money wasted on improvements to the street while traffic was still using it.
Mr Austin said he had been concerned at a suggestion from county and borough councillor Anne Gower (not named in last night's meeting) at a Haverhill Area Working Party meeting that the £900,000 earmarked for work in High Street could be withdrawn if the current scheme - which does not ban traffic - did not go ahead.
"It was as if the town was being threatened," he said.
Cllr Roger Andre said: "If there is a risk of public funds being wasted on a cosmetic exercise, we would rather not have it spent."
Earlier, Insp Ferrie, reporting on police issues to the meeting, was asked about the special meeting with Cllr McGregor which preceded the decision not to pursue pedestrianisation.
He had asked to be invited but was specifically excluded by the county council.
Cllr Byrne said she was 'disgusted' by his exclusion as he was the key person to the whole issue.
He admitted he was 'very surprised indeed' not to be allowed to attend, but said he had not followed the matter up any further.
Town clerk Will Austin reported to last night's town council meeting on progress - or lack of it - in their recent quest for ways to prevent illegal parking and driving in the street.
Their preferred solution - full pedestrianisation with barriers during the day - is now a distant dream since Suffolk County Council's transport supremo Cllr Guy McGregor decided it should not go ahead.
Mr Austin had asked for Cllr McGregor's reasons for his decision, and was told his main fear was that the traffic regulation order would fail at a public inquiry - due to objections from businesses - at a cost to of £50,000.
Mr Austin asked if another organisation were to underwrite this possible loss, whether the county would change its view and was told it would not.
Another concern was that they would be 'unable to address the concerns of local businesses'. Mr Austin has now written to inform the county of recent plans from Gurteens which might open up the possibility of alternative access to their site.
With the county 'digging its heels in', Mr Austin said, he had worked with PC Will Wright on short-term measures which Haverhill's police chief, Insp Peter Ferrie, described as 'imaginative'.
Among these were new siting of planters, bollards and street furniture to prevent parking, promotional activity such as a high-profile clamping to show what could happen, amobile speed camera, making Swan lane one-way as far as Mill Road, and even reversing the one-way direction in the high street.
Some town councillors had met the businesses affected and although only seven out of 92 invited turned up, Mr Austin said it was a positive meeting.
One of the main requests to come from it was that measures shouls include a temporary period of free short-term parking in the car parks - say for half an hour - to last a couple of weeks or so to see the effect.
Mr Austin had contacted St Edmundsbury Borough Council about this and had received a flat 'no',on the grounds it would set a precedent for other parts of the borough.
Mr Austin said the idea that all parking across a whole diverse area should be exactly the same was absurd.
"Consistency is not appropriate across the borough," he said. "I was told this by the new St Edmundsbury chief executive when I asked if the Arts Centre could have equivalent funding to the Apex.
"I was told this was not appropriate to the Arts Centre because Bury and Haverhill are not similar places. Well, they can't have it both ways."
Cllr Maureen Byrne, who is also a borough councillor said she would see if a change of mind over free parking could be achieved.
She criticised an advertisement by Chapmans which showed their van parked on the pavement in High Street. She thought this was taking the mickey out of the town council. "I'm afraid that is the attitude," she said.
Councillors agreed they did not want to see money wasted on improvements to the street while traffic was still using it.
Mr Austin said he had been concerned at a suggestion from county and borough councillor Anne Gower (not named in last night's meeting) at a Haverhill Area Working Party meeting that the £900,000 earmarked for work in High Street could be withdrawn if the current scheme - which does not ban traffic - did not go ahead.
"It was as if the town was being threatened," he said.
Cllr Roger Andre said: "If there is a risk of public funds being wasted on a cosmetic exercise, we would rather not have it spent."
Earlier, Insp Ferrie, reporting on police issues to the meeting, was asked about the special meeting with Cllr McGregor which preceded the decision not to pursue pedestrianisation.
He had asked to be invited but was specifically excluded by the county council.
Cllr Byrne said she was 'disgusted' by his exclusion as he was the key person to the whole issue.
He admitted he was 'very surprised indeed' not to be allowed to attend, but said he had not followed the matter up any further.
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