Battle for the soul of Hungerford town centre
SINCE the idea of a ‘continental-style piazza’ for Hungerford town centre was first suggested more than a decade ago, it proved controversial.
It has recently been revived by a town centre steering group.
Proponents suggest the idea is simply at the drawing board stage and that any final decision is a long way off.
Critics fear the project is being pushed forward without proper scrutiny.
Here is a roundup of the latest developments culled from this week’s Newbury Weekly News:
* FEELINGS are running high in what some portray as a battle for the soul of Hungerford town centre.
At stake is whether proposals for a redeveloped central area, or piazza, would gobble up prized parking spaces.
Grappling with the issue, which has become something of a poison chalice, is a town centre steering group.
Critics say the plans could cost up to £1m at a time when money is scarce and that cheaper alternatives, which would retain parking spaces, are available.
The stated aim of the steering group is for “representatives of businesses, the town council and other stakeholders to come together to help guide the programme, collaborate on projects wherever possible and consider funding opportunities.”
The town council has pointed out that, although it is chaired and administered by the town council, it remains, at heart a West Berkshire Council committee with a remit to do what is best for the town.
In March the group considered proposals for the town centre, one of which, critics claim, would necessarily involve losing four parking spaces.
Fast forward to a full town council meeting on Monday, December 2, when town mayor Helen Simpson told retailers in a statement: “I would like you to know I did vote in favour of a town centre square which would have resulted in the loss of four car parking spaces, when it was originally presented to the steering group.
“[Town councillor Alistair Fyfe’s] proposal, in my opinion, was the best-looking town square from all the ideas presented.
“The idea was being worked through.
“West Berkshire Council gave feedback on the highway layout which meant it would need to change to overcome highway concerns.
“The group also considered deliveries of stock to retailers; these were all extremely important notes for consideration.
“I was looking at other ways to mitigate any loss to parking including allowing permit holders to be able to park off street to free up space.
“Only on conclusion of all these major points would a scheme be drawn up for full consultation.
“This was why I voted in favour a second time. Any new proposal would have considered these concerns…as town mayor I must consider all the residents’ views not just those of the retailers.”
Some retailers who contacted the Newbury Weekly News said they felt there had been a lack of proper consultation and that meetings on important issues had been held behind closed doors.
Trader Susan Hofgartner said: “You could create a very good, new area in the centre of town by using the redundant bus and taxi rank.
“If you put bollards at the entrance and exit it’s easy then to lift them to allow vehicles in for the market of the Victorian Extravaganza.”
Another, Emma Milne-White, said she felt there had been little genuine consultation and that “disharmony and lack of progress” had resulted.
Mrs Simpson acknowledged it was one of the most controversial issues she could recall in her seven-year tenure as mayor.
Steering group chairman James Cole also conceded: “This has been a really challenging, divisive thing to be part of…the town is at each other’s throats and that’s not what we’re about in Hungerford.”
Town councillor David Reeves, however, said he feared how the issue would be reported, adding: “I can see the headlines now about division…we don’t need it.”
The issue was discussed further that evening but members of the press and public were excluded.
The item, headed: “consider town council’s future involvement in town centre strategy steering group” was placed into the confidential, ‘part two’ section of the agenda, which states: “The public and press may be excluded from the meeting on the grounds that publicity might be prejudicial to the public interest.”
* A MAJORITY of town traders have vehemently opposed any project which could lead to the loss of parking spaces.
Below is a brief summary of some of the comments culled from a survey of their views:
* “How would a ‘town square’ outside the town hall benefit the majority of Hungerfordians?
“There is obviously a large pot of money somewhere.
“Where is it coming from and what is the need to spend huge sums of money on a project for the gratification of the few?
“Money could be spent better by improving the pavements to make them easier for old and disabled people to walk on and to ride their mobility scooters.
* “The threat of parking spaces being removed is one of the issues that has concerned us most.
“What we really do not want to see is loss of parking, building disruption and restricted access for deliveries.
“We also feel that the ‘cart is being put before the horse’, with a proposal under way before much thought has been given to how will the space be used.
* “The majority of businesses in Hungerford are against this.
“They have not been listened to and their views have been ignored.
* “There currently are 159 council parking spaces in Hungerford; reducing this may have the effect of people not wanting to travel here due to the restrictions and difficulty in finding spaces especially in and around the town centre.
“If any progressive development is required, it should perhaps be directed to increasing parking which has the benefit for all as opposed to the benefit for a few that a town square may bring… it is a poorly evaluated development idea with no real basis in bringing commerce to the town.
* “It will divert foot traffic away from existing businesses; it will also introduce additional commercial spaces that might increase competition for already struggling businesses.
* “Parking is the lifeblood of this market town.
HERE is the statement trader Susan Hofgartner put to Hungerford Town Council in the public forum section of Monday’s (December 2) full town council meeting:
“I am here to express my deep concern over Hungerford Town Council’s ongoing participation in, and actions within, the Hungerford High Street strategy steering group.
“Firstly, as a business owner and resident of Hungerford for 35 years, chairman of Hungerford Chamber of Commerce for seven years and Constable of the Town and Manor for three years, I have never experienced such an argumentative and dysfunctional group as the steering group.
“It pits the mayor, councillors and council against local businesses and other organisations in the town.
“The resulting discord is not only corrosive to the collaborative spirit that should define local governance, it is causing uncountable hours of wasted time and destroying trust, sowing doubt about the motives and loyalties of individuals as well as organisations.
“It is possible that you as councillors may feel that the retailers and chamber of commerce are acting in an overbearing way and ignoring the general community of people but I can assure we have not.
“We have made a vast contribution to ideas and suggestions that have been put forward by Adrian (Gilmour, owner of Hungerford Arcade), myself, retailers and the chamber of commerce.
“This includes the many retailers who support the creation of a town square with NO loss of parking.
“In light of these concerns: I strongly urge the Town Council to reconsider its support for the steering group, the retailers and chamber of commerce do not have the power to close this group down, but the Town Council do, and we would wholeheartedly support you if you do.”
