Dallas–Pierce–Quintero Watford High Street (North) and Cultural Hub
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Dallas–Pierce–Quintero Sept 2019 Watford High Street (North) and Cultural Hub Interim Stakeholder Consultation Report DRAFT Contents 1. Introduction 1.1 Project Team 3 1.2 Consul tation Aims 4 1.3 Consultation Approach 5 2. Consultation 2.1 Consultation Events 8 2.2 Website & Questionnaire 9 2.3 Invited Meetings 10 2.4 Postcards & Banners 12 2.5 Consultation Numbers 13 3. Masterplan Consultation Findings 3.1 Analysis Methodology 15 3.2 Masterplan - need and priorities for the 15 revitalisation 3.3 Masterplan - support for the objectives 19 3.4 Masterplan - general recommendations 20 3.5 Phase 1 findings 22 3.6 Phase 1 recommendations 27 DRAFT 3.7 Phase 2 findings 30 3.8 Phase 2 recommendations 33 3.9 Phase 3 findings 35 3.10 Phase 3 recommendations 36 Dallas–Pierce–Quintero 2 Introduction 1.1 Project Team Watford Borough Council Kathryn Robson Head of Corporate Strategy & Communications Gaurav Choksi Project Manager Place Shaping Phil Dodshon Principal Planner Public Consultation Event 1 - 29th July 2019 Dallas–Pierce–Quintero Juliet Quintero Tommaso Cuni Public Consultation Event 2 - 10th September 2019 Dallas–Pierce–Quintero Juliet Quintero Susie Gray Invited businesses - 4th Sept 2019 Dallas–Pierce–Quintero Juliet Quintero DRAFT Tommaso Cuni Right: Public Consultation Event 2 Dallas–Pierce–Quintero 3 Introduction OPPORTUNITIES - AREA PROPOSALS Aerial view of proposed Phase 1 (Illustrative) 1.2 Consultation Aims OPPORTUNITIES - AREA PROPOSALS PHASESThe aim of the 1, public 2 & consultation 3 was to engage INTRODUCTIONwith a wide range of stakeholders including residents and WATFORD HIGH STREET (NORTH) AND CULTURAL HUB businesses on the draft Watford High Street (North) and DRAFT MASTERPLAN The Masterplan is to be developed, Cultural Hub Masterplan to get their feedback at this defining and focusing this area as a place for early stage to help shape the future of this part of the “People, Learning, Music, Culture and Living” town. The Draft Masterplan is conceived as a phased approach, to enable a holistic response to the site and surrounding area, howeverMasterplan each phase isAims independent of the others and they are not co-reliant in order to be deliverable. The aim of the Masterplan is to regenerate the north part CONSULTATION DRAFT of the town centre between West Herts College south July 2019 Phase 1 (Short term) Phase 2 (Medium term) Phase 3 (Medium / Long term) Phaseand where1 Clarendon Road joins the High Street to Duringprovide Phase a 1destination a network ofwhere new publiceducation, open spacescultural will and be WATFORDPhasing HIGH STREET (NORTH) Plan & CULTURAL HUB MASTERPLAN | 19 created, along with more cafes and other attractions. New public art leisureand tree uses planting are concentrated will be introduced, in a much along withimproved cycle parking setting andwhich cycle hirereflects stands the and heritage improved assets. public signing. Opportunities for improving the north part of The Parade will be Alooked key ambitionat to achieve of thea better document mix of usesis to andsecure bring the vacant long buildingsterm future and upper of two floors of iitsnto listed productive buildings, use. the Town Hall and Watford Museum. The document also includes the Phaseprovision 2 of much needed family homes within the town centre. In Phase 2 six to eight discrete sites (depending on how the land is assembled) could be redeveloped and enhanced. Most of theseThe sites delivery are in ofprivate the Masterplan ownership and is devised subsequently in three are phases,more difficultand theareas consultation to bring forward informs than on the each Phase phase 1 area and which offers are 2 mosthetly opportunityin public sector to ownership.feedback on the need to regenerate 3 2 Newthis landmark part of buildings the town with and high on qualitythe aims design and reflectingscope of aeachnd enhaphase.ncing the Conservation Area are needed on many of the redevelopment sites. Existing views of key buildings are to be enhanced, and better signage for pedestrians would be put in place. Movement corridors for pedestrians and cyclists within and DRAFT1 outside the core area of the town centre would also be enhanced. Phase 3 Phase 3 involves more long term and challenging transport improvements within the masterplan area and the surrounding roads that feed into the area. This couldRight involve - Phases a newof the surface Masterplan 2 N level crossing on Rickmansworth Road. Above right - draft Masterplan cover page and illustrative view Further measures such as bus priority routes could be consideredof Phase 1 as part of a long term aim to make the town more sustainable. The introduction of wider pavements would allow pedestrians, Dallas–Pierce–Quinterocyclists and mobility scooters to co-exist and move around 4 more freely. 20 mph zones could also be phased in as part of a town wide initiative. 16 | WATFORD HIGH STREET (NORTH) & CULTURAL HUB MASTERPLAN Introduction Publicising the draft Masterplan Physical publicity included posters in the town 1.3 Consultation Approach centre and banners displayed in Watford Museum and in the Council Customer Service Centre where a The aim of the consultation was to engage with a At its meeting on 4th July, the Cabinet gave approval to hard copy of the document was also available to view. wide range of stakeholders, to provide information on the consult on the draft Masterplan. draft Masterplan proposals and to encourage participation A letter / postcard with consultation information was and feedback. A dedicated website went online on 12th July, providing distributed to the residents and businesses within the website visitors a brief overview of the proposals, together immediate consultation area. This feedback will help to inform our recommendations with a link to download the complete document and for the final Masterplan. requesting feedback via an online questionnaire. Three consultation events were held in the town centre. A public notice with information about the consultation • First public consultation event on 29 July 2019, with was published in the Watford Observer. a marquee in The Parade The public consultation for the Masterplan formally • Business Consultation on 04 September 2019 in an commenced on the 19th July. All statutory consultees were empty shop on The Parade notified. • Second public consultation event on 10 September Further efforts to publicise the draft Masterplan in an empty shop on The Parade included a social media campaign and mailshots by Watford Borough Council Communications and Planning Policy departments. July August September DRAFTInvited meetings Business drop-in Public Consultation WatfordPublic Observer Consultation article Event Consultation period closed DraftMasterplan Masterplan website published goes live Social media campaign commences Public Consultation period commences Draft interim consultation report issued Dallas–Pierce–Quintero 5 Introduction 1.3 Consultation Approach Publicise Public Local Postcard Direct Notice press drop invitation Consult Public Business Direct Website Banners Consultation Event Meetings DRAFTFeedback Question- Direct Comments Postcards naire emails Dallas–Pierce–Quintero 6 2. Consultation DRAFT 7 2.1 Consultation Events Dallas-Pierce-Quintero held three consultation events in During the consultation events visitors were invited to Local Business Consultation Event the town centre: add comments to the maps and were also directed to the online questionnaire to complete. 4th Sept 2019 Public Consultation Event 1 A special drop in event was organised for the businesses Approximately 80 peopole participated in this event. 29th July 2019 to share their views and to help shape the future of their area. This event was held between 11-3pm within a marquee Public Consultation Event 2 next to the pond on The Parade. 10th September 2019 Approximately 20 people attended this event. The consultation banners were displayed showing the 3 The second consultation event was held in Unit 106 and phases and samples of the indicative illustrations from the followed similar format as the first. Masterplan. A hard copy of the draft document was available to read, and attendees were asked to complete a Approximately 60 people participated in this event. short questionnaire on a postcard. Far left - Outdoor set-up for Public Consultation Event 1. Middle - Consultation in Unit 106 on The Parade. Below - Feedback comments on proposed plan. DRAFT Dallas–Pierce–Quintero 8 2.2 Website & Questionnaire Website The draft Masterplan had a dedicated website (www.watfordtowncentreimprovements.co.uk) for the consultation. The website provided information about the draft proposals with an overview of the 3 phases. There was a link to download the full draft document and a link to the survey questionnaire. The website was accessed 919 times. Questionnaire The questionnaire was composed of 28 questions, of which 17 pertained to questions regarding the draft proposals, with the remaining collating personal information of the respondents. We received 458 completed questionnaires. DRAFT Right - Home page of website Dallas–Pierce–Quintero 9 2.3 Invited meetings The Project Team discussed the draft Masterplan and Following these discussions, a number of stakeholders invited feedback from the key stakeholders at a number of responded with their comments and feedback. individual meetings. We set out below extracts from the responses from two key Meetings were held with the following organisations: stakeholders in response to the draft proposals: