HOUNSLOW TOWN CENTRE VISIONS
Commonplace Consultation summary
February 2021 Introduction
Why are these projects happening? What did we ask you? We want our town centres to evolve, thrive and innovate in We asked residents to share their knowledge and ideas. order to meet current and future challenges, but we must strive This included identifying and mapping the key threats and for more. A modern town centre can play its part in mitigating opportunities for each town centre, and what a vision for climate change, economic inequality and even social injustice. their long-term future might be. All the while, we must never lose sight of existing town centre communities and adapting to welcoming new ones. We want When did we ask for comments? to support grassroot community projects and strong public- 3rd September - 8th November 2020 private partnerships, attracting investment and funding. What is in this document? We believe our town centres can offer an excellent range of A Commonplace map and survey was used to collect goods and services for visitors, a thriving trading environment comments. This document provides a summary of the for businesses and provide a good quality of life for their comments and ideas collected. Some questions were residents. We want a sustainable mix of uses, a well-connected multiple-choice whilst others prompted a descriptive transport network and an environment which promotes written response. These have all been read, recorded and biodiversity and healthy living. summarised.
Why are we creating these vision documents? How many people responded? By creating these documents, we can build a plan, based on Hounslow 177 all the stakeholders’ ambitions, and support the right kinds of Feltham 102 developments in the town centres. The visions will also ensure Brentford 167 that we are better placed to attract investment and funding to Chiswick 1435 make the plans happen. What happens next? The visions will be for Hounslow, Feltham, Brentford and We have been using your comments to develop a vision for Chiswick town centres. each town centre. We would now like your views on these emerging ideas. A survey will go live on Citizenspace and we are running public workshops for each town centre to discuss these ideas. The Vision documents will be published later in the Spring after feedback has been taken into account on the emerging ideas. Feltham town centre Feltham Mapped Responses
102 Total comments Feltham How do you feel about the town centre?
Most popular responses... Least popular responses...
Poor shopping variety* Good open space (No open space 11%) 52% 9%
Cycle friendly Poor connections (Good connections 9%) 35% 7%
Feels unsafe Good for family activities (No family activities 12%)
*Interestingly, 40% of respondents considered the shopping 28% 4% variety to be good, which shows the range of opinions on the town centre Feltham Describe the ideal future town centre
example quotes... Better movement around the town centre... “Bedfont Lane shops and my favourite eating place but are now cut off. Can there be digital sign posting at the station and in the 28% town centre for these forgotten shops!” “One that people from north Feltham/Bedfont can access easily on foot.” “More free car parking needed.”
Quality of public realm... “More investment into Green/pond area, we are so lucky to have this space (and) to see it run down and full of litter and 27% drunks is really sad.”
Sense of community... “A town centre with more community activities and less overcrowded accommodation crammed into every available 23% space.”
Leisure / culture 32% Restaurants and bars 16% Safety 24% Quality of buildings 15% Greenery 21% Homes 7% The town should have better... Shops 16% Employment 5% Feltham How could we make it better?
Most popular responses... Least popular responses...
More greenery / planting Less car parking 47% 3%
Stronger positive identity Less retail 36% 1%
More community facilities More housing 34% 0.5% Feltham Other comments
example quotes... Comments related to “It wouldn’t take much to make this safe enough for movement... children to cycle, but currently there are gaps”
37% “There are simply not enough free parking spaces for people living in the several apartment blocks inside The Centre”
Comments related to “Feltham Arts do a fantastic job of providing events for leisure / culture... everyone. It would be great if there was a defined area in the centre for community events and outdoor exhibitions. 23% At the moment they are held in the library which is up several flights of stairs and is unlikely to attract passers by.“
Comments related to “Too many flats being built in feltham...no parking, no more overcrowding / flats... schools, doctors (and) dentists to deal with these extra 17% people! Feltham is overcrowded”
Quality of public realm 15% Safety 5% Sense of community 15% F&B 5% Shopping 15% Greenery 3% Comments related to... Quality of buildings 10% Employment 0% Feltham Example comments
“Thank you for all the new bench seats on the high street.”
“Make the Feltham green and the pond attractive with colourful fountains & family recreation”
“A town centre that supports the creative and cultural ambitions of its residents.”
“More investment into Green/pond area, we are so lucky to have this space to see it run down and full of litter and drunks is really sad.”
“A town centre with more community activities and less overcrowded accommodation crammed into every available space” Feltham Example comments
“We need to slow vehicles significantly and ensure complete cycling routes in all directions - including between Feltham station and Lower Feltham/Feltham Village / St Dunstan’s. It wouldn’t take much to make this safe enough for children to cycle, but currently there are gaps, and it is concerning that this isn’t a priority.”
“To those new to the town or driving through there has to be a sense of purpose for stopping. The centre is hidden at the back and can easily be missed... Instead you’re left with dated buildings”
“No more new dwellings, it’s already over populated”
“Too many flats being built in feltham (but) no parking, no more schools, doctors or dentists to deal with these extra people! Feltham is overcrowded”
“At the moment the centre is reliant on chain stores. I’d like to see a wider range of useful, environmentally friendly and reasonably priced shops (e.g. butcher, baker, greengrocer, no-packaging store). Rents and rates could be lowered to support local people who want to set up businesses. This would support the sense of community in the centre.” Transport & Movement comments
most common themes: General comments Lack of parking Connections: A couple of respondents wanted better and safer connections to and from the town centre, and a desire The impacts of roadworks for the town centre to become less of a through-route. One comment was made about ensuring there were cycle routes in (and questions about when the bridge will be finished) all directions
Public realm: A couple of comments included wanting a Connectivity from the town centre for brighter, cleaner and greener town centre pedestrians and cyclists Road works and bridge works: A couple of comments included asking about when the bridge works would be completed and not wanting any more road works. One comment was made about the recent high street scheme encouraging more vehicle speeding
Parking: A couple of comments were about more, and free parking particularly for disabled users