|
Subject to approval by Babergh councillors next Thursday (October 8), residents in Sudbury and the surrounding villages will have the chance to view – and give their opinions on – three options aimed at revamping an unsightly part of the town centre.
The area of the town centre, which is owned by various landowners, south of St Peter’s Church and to the west of Great Eastern Road and which includes the bus station has been considered something of an eyesore for a while. Babergh District Council, which owns the bus station, has teamed up with Suffolk County Council to work with local groups and others to collect the public’s views on a number of potential options for the area.
Over the summer the two councils have been having detailed conversations with Sudbury Town Council, the Chamber of Commerce, the Sudbury Society and the Sudbury Market Town Partnership as well as local landowners and the bus companies to understand what they want to see happening to the site.
As a result of these discussions, three options are being put forward for the public to give their views. These are:
Option 1 involves the relocation of the bus station eastwards from its current location with vehicular access via both Station Road and Great Eastern Road as at present plus a number of two or possibly three-storey mixed-use (retail/residential/leisure) buildings south of this up to the boundary with Francis Road.
Option 2 involves the removal of the bus station to either another location or by using bus stops with bus laybys being located alongside Great Eastern Road which could have a retail frontage. The existing bus station site would become pedestrianised and could attract outlets relating to the evening economy (eg restaurants) located alongside Borehamgate plus a number of two or possibly three-storey mixed-use (retail/residential/leisure) buildings on the remaining part of the site.
Option 3 involves the bus station being relocated to the bottom right hand corner of the site with vehicular access in and out via Great Eastern Road. The existing bus station site would become pedestrianised and could attract outlets relating to the evening economy (eg restaurants) located alongside Borehamgate plus a number of two or possibly three-storey mixed-use (retail/residential/leisure) buildings on the remaining part of the site.
According to Sandra Scott, Babergh’s Hamilton Road Quarter Project Leader, “each of the three have a number of clear advantages and disadvantages both as regards the impact on the site itself and the wider town centre. However, they all offer the prospect of improving an unsightly part of the town centre and all deserve to be considered further by the public”.
People will be able to view and give their opinions on each of the options at special exhibitions in the town. One – which will have staff from both Councils on hand to answer questions – will be at Sudbury Town Hall on October 31st and November 14th (10am to 6pm) and at St. Peter’s Church both on October 29th (10am to 6pm) or at the Christmas Fair on November 27th (6pm to 9pm). Another, unmanned, exhibition will be located throughout the period of consultation (October 26th to December 4th) at the Sudbury Tourist Information Centre.
There will also be a website providing the basic information about both the aims of the Hamilton Road Quarter project and a summary of the three options on offer. Viewers will also be able to give their views on each via the website.
The two councils will be writing directly to the parish councils in the vicinity of Sudbury as well as other consultees about the options. They will also be running a short series of leaflets and adverts in the local media aimed at encouraging people to view the exhibitions and give their opinions.
“If a prosperous and attractive Sudbury town centre is important to you – please come and see what the future may hold – and have your say” added Sandra Scott
Once the public have had their say and their preferences analysed, a report will be prepared with recommendations in the early part of 2010.
|