Re-generation or De-generation,
- that's the Question . . .
This page is reserved for information about and comment on the regeneration plans, - recently spectacularly unveiled and the subject of several 'soft sell' public relations meetings in the neighbourhood.
- Meetings, - where we were told that:
- traffic studies had been carried out, which supported the plans feasibility . .
(- without - however - being able to ascertain by whom and when!)
- buses would be perfectly capable of doing an acute left turn into Fortescue Road without obstructing any oncoming traffic . . .
(!!!)
- buses would be able to perform a 'figure eight' loop coming out of Fortescue Road and heading for Bath, - without hindering other roadusers . . .
(!!!)
- there would not be any net loss of parking spaces . . .
(- whilst this may just possibly be true, - if regeneration is the name of the game, - and additional shops and offices are to be built as well as the 240+ dwellings, - one could surely be forgiven for expecting for there to be a significant net gain in order to facilitate the planned growth!!)
- noise levels were not likely to increase. . .
(!!!)
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- here's a few that didn't make it into the artist's impression . .
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| - and that's before adding the Frome Road traffic into the mix | ||
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Regeneration, for it to mean anything in this particular context, would necessitate making ease of access to the town and convenient parking for the flood of new customers and visitors, - who are ultimately going to make the dream of a vibrant, pulsating market town come true - an overriding priority.
Funnelling the - often heavy - traffic of the A362 right through the centre of an already choking Radstock - can not by any stretch of the most vivid imagination be termed 'Regeneration'.
The ever increasing - and often heavy - through-traffic must be diverted away from the town centre altogether, - by way of some sort of by-pass.
Then, before Bellway is allowed start building up, - they must be made to dig down, - a large quantity of below ground parking could quite easily be provided beneath their new flagship commercial premises in order to accommodate the workforce, clients and visitors to the new shops and offices with convenient parking, that would not become an eyesore and mar the pretty picture they and LDA have sketched out for us . .
- and it is a pretty picture, - ill considered it may be, but a pretty picture never the less . .
B&NES on the other hand, - with their expertise in handling big budget projects - should find it a breeze to provide the much needed link road(s) that would keep the non-local traffic out of the equation . .
- Then, - and only then - can we start to consider it to be Regeneration.
Did someone mention money?
I'm sure that the good Burgher's of Bath will be just as willing to help us out as we are to fund their Spa.
1 Shop / Office Unit = 1 Proprietor + (min) 1 Staff + (min.) 2 Customers * 1 Vehicle = 4 Vehicles
10 New Shops/Offices = 10 * 4 Vehicles = 40 More Vehicles (min.)
250 New Homes = 250 * 1.5 (average) Vehicles = 375 More Vehicles
200 New Homes = 200 * 1.5 (average) Vehicles = 300 More Vehicles
Phil Chamberlain
Communications & Marketing
Bath & North East Somerset Council
01225 477827
The weekend exhibition on the Norton Radstock Regeneration masterplan is part of an extensive consultation that is taking place on an issue vital to the area's future.
In drawing up its options the NRR has worked closely with many different agencies, including Bath & North East Somerset Council, to ensure it has the best advice.
That consultation will continue when the plans are submitted to the Council and people will also have a chance to comment further on the detail.
The proposals for town centre traffic managment will form part of the application and will have to go through the appropriate planning procedure.
The Council have been closely involved in the development of this plan and believes it heralds and exciting opportunity for the area.
The traffic plans offer a positive blueprint for tackling this key issue. I believe this is the right solution within the masterplan proposals put forward by NRR and partners Bellway.
ENDS
- don't forget: - your opinion counts, - email your contribution (via the 'Contact Us') at the bottom of this page, - and/or register with the radstock4U Forum (it will only take a minute) to join in and keep the discussion going
- one could be tempted into joining the NRR's Forum in order to express an opinion, which they appear to encourage, - yet by and large, - the only opinions allowed to be expressed, seem to be those of Sara Manning of the NRR.
When you try to register, you'll most like - like me - never get accepted, - mind you - having seen the list of accepted members - I not alltogether sure I would wish to be counted among that lot . . .
- at a meeting of the NRR and Radstock Traders, it was revealed that according to recently conducted computer simulations, the introduction of NRR's proposed road layout changes would cut down the rush hour queing on Bath Road and Somervale Road by approximately 90% . . . . .
