North Ormesby Environmental Improvements
Executive report 18.08.10
Appendix A
Specific considerations within the market place:
Traffic Controls / parking:
Traffic movement patterns in the area have significantly changed with the recent development around the market square, and the one-way system around the square is often ignored, especially as vehicles exit the medical village.
It is proposed that the road to the Medical Village will be 2-way to accommodate this new traffic, and the 1-way system will remain in front of the houses along the market square and the church.
Formalised parking bays have been proposed around the periphery of the square. The provision is well distributed across the square and should still provide convenient parking for Kings Road, the Church / Trinity Centre, the housing around the square and any overspill from the medical village. On non-market days there will be 113 spaces provided, with 9 of these allocated for disabled persons. On market day the traders will be allocated 52 larger parking spaces suitable for vans, which will reduce the number of car parking spaces to 30.
Of the cars parked up on the kerbs around the market square, a very high proportion has disabled person’s badges on display, which means the parking restrictions around the square are not often enforced. This is not necessarily such a big problem for certain parts of the square, but if the road leading to the medical village is to be made into a 2-way road, enforcement of parking restrictions along that section must be strictly enforced. Cars often park in front of the private garages accessed from the Market Place, better parking restrictions and enforcement of these restrictions should be introduced to maintain access for residents.
Market Operation:
The current proposals provide 108 pitches, which is slightly higher than the maximum number of pitches required for the busiest market days of recent years, so all current traders can be accommodated. Once the layout has been approved, pitches will be allocated and pop-up electricity points will be specified where required for traders requiring power.
As the market will have to be reorganised, with revised provision for trader parking etc, it is considered an ideal opportunity to review and update the operational rules and regulations manual that the traders sign up to as a condition of trading. This should clarify sizes of pitch available, trading hours, rubbish management, parking arrangements etc. It is assumed these revised terms will be approved through a single member approval.
Materials:
The existing paving across the square is largely in a satisfactory condition, there is just simply too much of the same thing. All paving will be lifted as part of the work, but much of it will be re-laid, cleaned and resealed. New contrasting materials will be used to break up the monotony of the existing blocks. Areas for car parking will be surfaced in a bituminous material, with the individual bays marked out using the existing blocks. Raised kerbs will be introduced around the corners of the square to reinforce traffic movement.
WC’s:
The amenity block is unsightly, in a very poor state of repair externally. Internally the fixtures and fittings are very basic and dated and need to be upgraded, it is not cost effective to retain this structure in its current form. It has been agreed that the market still needs public toilets, a small office for the market manager, and a sluice / water supply for traders. Having considered a range of alternatives, two options are currently being explored.
The preferred option is that the Council will rent a currently vacant shop unit at 37 James Street, facing the market place and refit the unit to provide office and WC facilities as required. The facility will be opened only on market days, and a planning application for a change of use will be required to convert the former retail unit into this proposed use classification.
The second option is to provide a smaller replacement new build facility on the square.
The new facility will be much smaller than the existing building, and may result in the loss of 2 market pitches on market days and 3 car parking spaces on non-market days.
Trees:
A number of semi-mature trees are proposed for the edges of the square, these will help to soften what is now a very hard public space, and will add some verticality to the square, especially important on non-market days. The number and location has been carefully considered to allow the market and the car parking spaces to operate easily. The species of tree will be finalised once ground conditions have been assessed, but leaf fall, aphids and the eventual height and branch spread will all be taken into account.
Lighting:
The existing lighting in the square will be removed and replaced with a new lighting design, which will greatly improve the appearance of the square at night. The fittings suggested are extra long life LEDs which achieve energy savings of more than 40% in comparison to traditional solutions. The LED provide a white light which provides a bright clear light, ideal for this location.
The luminaries are angled specifically to minimise any obtrusive lighting into the buildings surrounding the square whilst still meeting required lighting levels across roads and car parking areas. Eight of the lighting columns will be fit with banners to add animation to the square.
Security:
The existing CCTV camera will be upgraded and replaced with a better quality camera probably in a similar location, but inline with the row of trees and lighting columns to reduce the impact of the installation. This upgraded camera combined with the improved lighting across the square should make the camera more effective as a method of deterring / reporting crime in the area.
Street furniture:
Traffic will be prevented from driving across the market square by the installation of bollards in the form of low-level cast iron spheres. Lighting columns and litterbins will be co-ordinated to match, probably in black. It is currently suggested that two benches are provided along James Street, but these may be removed if they attract anti-social behaviour.
Central feature:
There is an opportunity to create a central feature in the square, possibly in conjunction with local young people. The church and staff from Ormesby Hall have recently been working with local children with to mark the 150-year anniversary of the first act of worship in North Ormesby, and are supportive of the creation of a lasting legacy from this work. A suggested location for this has been noted on the plans, though as yet there are no firm designs for this.
Rubbish collection / bottle banks:
The bottle banks are to be removed as the council extends its doorstep recycling services. On market days, a skip will be brought to site for rubbish collection and then removed at the end of each day. The advantage of this system is that for the days when the market is not on, there is nothing left in the square that is unsightly, attracts further rubbish and fly tipping, or could be a target for anti-social behaviour or vandalism.
Specific considerations out with the market place:
Business Support:
A proportion of the budget has been set aside to support businesses along Kings Road and James Street. There are two grants available; a Commercial Property Improvement Grant of up to £8,000 per property, and a Business Assistance Package of up to £2,000 to help businesses grow and develop. These grants may require some contribution from recipients.
Kings Road:
All existing lighting columns along Kings Road will be removed and new lights to match the square will be installed. These columns will be fit with banners and/or Christmas lights to further animate the street.
There are two grants available to support businesses; a Commercial Property Improvement Grant of up to £8,000 per property, and a Business Assistance Package of up to £2,000 to help businesses develop. These grants may require some contribution from recipients.
There is a shortage of parking along Kings Road, and it is proposed that parking restrictions in the mews behind Kings Road could be partially removed to allow businesses to utilise these areas for long stay parking, to free up the parking on Kings Road for customers.
Several requests have been made for bollards to be introduced down the Eastern side of Kings Road to prevent cars and vans parking on the pavements and blocking both the road and the cars parked in the designated bays.
There are a number of other items that will be repaired / improved as part of this development, including the introduction of a landscaping scheme around the church and the empty retail units at the opposite end of the square, repairs to broken walls and planters along James Street, and also the replacement / repairs to areas of paving outside the church and along James Street. There is also a sum of money allocated for new signage and some publicity around the re-launch of the market square once the work has been completed.
Page 1 of 4