Maltings plans on show (From Salisbury Journal)

Nothing in the plans for an integrated transport system for Salisbury. Rail, bus and coach services linked in one hub? No, of course not. Let's continue with the traffic congestion and the park and ride 'solution' to traffic congestion. My letter is on it's way, we can't afford to waste yet another opportunity to address the Salisbury city transport problems.

The space that the Maltings does offer the city requires very careful planning. Reduced car parking is one.
At the exhibition in the Guildhall it was rather crowded, this being a positive, but made it difficult to really take in the site and initial proposals. The staff were helpful and would have received many comments and suggestions. Some answers could not be given at this stage.
Will the library remain? If the plan to open this entrance to the Maltings did receive planning, then where is the city library to be placed? IMPORTANT to many!
The WC should now begin a traffic consultation as transport into the city is complex for many. With the bus station closing, where will the buses park for passengers to use?
The existing Sainsbury Store has many loyal customers and have supported this city over many years. The two set of plans on view did show one with the supermarket site(phase 2), and the first phase of the plan without. The WC will soon have to decide if the application for a major supermarket on the A36 , opposite Tesco Extra will go ahead. This could have an affect on the Maltings. Do we require more shops and an increase in restaurants? Will trade move from one area to the new, and then leave a vacuum in present sites now open? With restricted parking proposed for the Market Square, the area for parking in the Maltings will be used in the evenings when open. Work on the Market Square will happen in 2013, and this has taken 3 years with an application being withdrawn when the Area Board took control,and we have yet to choose the seating! Also WC Unitary elections are in May, so please have a formal application in by then so that any campaign will have the LOCAL people making a choice. Perhaps a vote on the proposals on the same day! Do visit the Guildhall on Tuesday- the future is on show.

Is there anywhere on line that we can view the plans?

Karl, the plans Stanhope are outlining are their inital draft for the Maltings/Central Car Park site. The traffic issues are for Wiltshire Council to address, not Stanhope.

Having said that we can't do a proper job of tying up City Centre transport until we have atleast a broad idea of what the Maltings will look like. It will be vital to make sure that the Old George Mal/High Street/Market Place/Maltings all tie together and the pedestrian flow between them works well if we are to properly benefit from the improved 'offering' that the City Centre will contain.

We need a cohesive plan for transport in and around the City Centre (along with Churchfields and Southampton Road among others) and as Chair of the Area Board I am already starting the work to make sure that this is now developed as the Maltings takes shape. The announcement about the closure of the Bus Station (which took us all by surprise) makes this even more important to get right.

This is not something we can rush into. We need a proper plan and we then need to make sure it can be implemented. There may be some elements that can be done sooner than others. There are many people who would like to see Blue Boar Row become pedestrianised with only buses and taxis allowed to use it. I am not sure that is the simple solution many see it as but it is something which could be considered ahead of the Maltings Development but any bus/rail interchange would need to know the full shape of the Maltings development (and possibly be part of it).

I think this will be one of the most important issues for the new Area Board to address after the May elections. We will not have the information to address it before hand.

I would urge everyone to tell Stanhope what they would like to see happen to the Maltings site. Stanhope are willing to listen and are approaching this process with a very open mind at this stage. They want to make sure their plans fit in with the City and its resident and shoppers. This is a real chance to make that happen.

The Market Place work will be carried out with work starting in New Canal Street in January and the Market Place shortly afterwards. We are consulting on lighting and benches becasue the public asked to be consulted and I think we need to listen to people wherever possible. This will be finished by early January and will not delay the process.

The design for the Maltings will however take much longer to develop. I would be very surprised if a planning application was even near being submitted until this time next year. It is not Wiltshire who will design this but Stanhope, and they will be guided by the public, not politicans.

Yours sincerely,

Richard Clewer

I forgot to mention the Library. This will remain despite some of the scaremongering rumours to the contrary.

We are looking to develope the second stage of the Community Campus in conjunction with the Library to improve the range of services offered there. I don't think anyone can commit that it will stay in exactly the same place or format (it may though) but it will be retained and enhanced. I wonder if it may be an improvement to see it sited nearer the City Hall and Play House in a 'cultural quarter' but those are just my views. Let Stanhope know yours.

I would add that the Library facade facing onto the Market Place will be retained. It is part of the Character of the City and to remove that would be foolish. The passageway linking the Market Place/Cheese Market and the Maltings however could well benefit from improvements and more light.

Cheers,

Richard Clewer

Richard, a balanced reply and I for one look forward to Area Board Meetings and perhaps a ' special' to discuss transport, road and rail links around the city. It is obvious that the Unitary Council will have to assess the problems of more buses on the road side with the bus atation closing. However, with respecting your comment that the next Area Board as elected in May 2013 will face these proposals, this could see elected candidates who wish to see little or no change within the city! There is a core number of residents who remain adverse to change, and they have to be heard. Then a stalemate. If plans for the Maltings do remain unavailable for May 2013, then do be prepared for much comment on where the Library will be situated. This SHOULD be answered early in the consultation period as all ages use the library and emotions will run high if not fully explained. Do not wish to see another 'tree' campaign !!

Rantone said "With restricted parking proposed for the Market Square, "

Actually NO parking what-so-ever is planned for the Market Square!

Helen Farmer

Thank you Helen, but when typing I was thinking of the Market Square with restricted parking as on Tuesday and Saturday the market traders will be able to use as normal - so I believe. I accept your statement and also would really wish that parking could remain in part with some open spaces for all to enjoy. Also the city in the evenings will lose out if parking is not allowed as you state in our market squares. The present arrangement as administered by WC in that the two squares - Guildhall and Market have different rules for evening parking is rather confusing. The Xmas Market has helped solve this for 3 weeks but normal parking disciplines return soon. As two defined areas will remain for the two squares eventually some parking WILL return, perhaps in front of the Guildhall, may be this is an election topic for May 2013! Best wishes. .

The issue of parking for Market Traders will need to be made by the City Council. They are responsbile for running the market and for events in the Market Place. The changes to the Market Place will involve some alterations to the layout of some market stands. For example the addition of a disabled toilet will mean some movement as potentiall will the new trees and some benches. The City Council may take the opportunity to make further changes. There has been discussion of the removal of vans from the market but that is an issue for the City Council to decide. I guess if you have views on that get in touch with them.

As pointed out the intention is to remove all parking from the Market and Guildhall Square. Disabled parking is being moved to New Canal street and with on street parking with atleast 10 new spaces being added.

The removal of parking has been supported by all the elements of the consultation we have undertaken. The survey showed 60% of people wanting the square to become pedestrianised and every meeting I chaired on the Market Place supported the removal of all parking.

Cheers,

Richard

Richard, Obviously your colleagues at Trowbridge have budgeted for less income for 2013 from the Market Square here in Salisbury. Also in 2014 when the Maltings development is underway then again less income from what is now the Central Car Park. I fully respect the present decision on nil parking in the Squares, but retain concerns. With surfaces being designed to take the annual Fair and the twice weekly market, then a future administration may again consider the number of disabled spaces and the effect on trade in the evenings, - and then revert to some parking in part of the area of the Guildhall or traditional Market Square. Even a future Area Board will continue to address parking and the charges imposed on the city. This will remain on the agenda.
However, for now a Happy Christmas and thank you for replying.

I know it would be a bit of an ask to get Wiltshire Council to work with Stanhope regarding the transport side of any redevelopment, not traffic, we're trying to reduce that as there is enough already.
Basics like, when you get off of a train you can get straight onto a bus (not everyone wants to visit Stonehenge !) or a coach. A safe walkway to the new development, without having to dice with HGV traffic?