1. © Bishop’s Stortford Town Council Bishop’s Stortford Neighbourhood Plan Team for Silverleys and Meads Wards 26 th November 2013

2. The Town Centre Stage 2 26 th November 2013 © Bishop’s Stortford Town Council2

3. Objectives 1 – 2020 Vision The town centre should be an attractive and vibrant place at the heart of the town The town centre should be an attractive and vibrant place at the heart of the town To maintain a viable and varied retail offering by encouraging shoppers to spend as much time as they want to complete their purchases in a relaxed environment To maintain a viable and varied retail offering by encouraging shoppers to spend as much time as they want to complete their purchases in a relaxed environment Any development must be sensitive to the heritage and aesthetic, as well as the look and feel of the town. Any development must be sensitive to the heritage and aesthetic, as well as the look and feel of the town. The town centre must retain its human scale, allowing for some growth, it must be walkable and accessible, with ease of movement throughout. The town centre must retain its human scale, allowing for some growth, it must be walkable and accessible, with ease of movement throughout. © Bishop’s Stortford Town Council

4. Objectives 2: feedback from consultation Improve availability and quality of parking, whilst lowering overall cost Improve availability and quality of parking, whilst lowering overall cost Reduce traffic congestion to encourage people to the town centre without excessive noise and pollution Reduce traffic congestion to encourage people to the town centre without excessive noise and pollution Improve existing shops, buildings and other facilities by maintaining high levels of occupancy and working with local organisations and businesses Improve existing shops, buildings and other facilities by maintaining high levels of occupancy and working with local organisations and businesses Consider new development to create more opportunities for all without compromising existing enterprises Consider new development to create more opportunities for all without compromising existing enterprises © Bishop’s Stortford Town Council

5. Policy Objectives - Parking When allocating new parking prioritise shoppers, then workers, finally commuters When allocating new parking prioritise shoppers, then workers, finally commuters Encourage bus services for commuters/workers to and from the station and town centre using real time info Encourage bus services for commuters/workers to and from the station and town centre using real time info Improve cycle parking (see TP12) and footpaths/cycle routes (see TP7) Improve cycle parking (see TP12) and footpaths/cycle routes (see TP7) Avoid loss of car parking unless offset elsewhere or modal shift kicks in Avoid loss of car parking unless offset elsewhere or modal shift kicks in Add new parking by sensitively adding new levels to existing car parks, new sites as last resort Add new parking by sensitively adding new levels to existing car parks, new sites as last resort Car parking revenues should aim to break even and support free initial period Car parking revenues should aim to break even and support free initial period © Bishop’s Stortford Town Council

6. Policy Objectives - Traffic flow and shared space No through traffic along Potter Street and Church Street except emergency vehicles No through traffic along Potter Street and Church Street except emergency vehicles Pedestrianise or create shared space along South Street to Newtown Road Pedestrianise or create shared space along South Street to Newtown Road Concentrate market in same area Concentrate market in same area What about North Street? What about North Street? © Bishop’s Stortford Town Council

7. Policy Objectives – Existing Facilities Encourage full occupancy and disguise empties with more flexible change of use Encourage full occupancy and disguise empties with more flexible change of use Ensure buildings are well-maintained – link with conservation area Ensure buildings are well-maintained – link with conservation area Ensure common facilities e.g. toilets, landscaping, signage are well maintained Ensure common facilities e.g. toilets, landscaping, signage are well maintained Ensure existing library, post office, tourist office, CAB, GP surgery remain in town centre Ensure existing library, post office, tourist office, CAB, GP surgery remain in town centre Improve communication about places of interest and facilities, especially to tourists Improve communication about places of interest and facilities, especially to tourists Should we aim at moving industrial sites, e.g. mill out of town in the long term? Should we aim at moving industrial sites, e.g. mill out of town in the long term? © Bishop’s Stortford Town Council

8. Policy Objectives – Criteria for New Development Encourage complementary but varied retail enterprises to extend range and scale Encourage complementary but varied retail enterprises to extend range and scale Include other uses such as leisure, hotel to increase footfall Include other uses such as leisure, hotel to increase footfall To be sympathetic to the character and scale of the town centre (boundary tba) To be sympathetic to the character and scale of the town centre (boundary tba) Mitigation, financial or otherwise, for disruption during new development Mitigation, financial or otherwise, for disruption during new development Communication of progress during new development, onsite and online Communication of progress during new development, onsite and online Contributions to improving infrastructure and other facilities (designed in, not monetary) Contributions to improving infrastructure and other facilities (designed in, not monetary) Units to be of a useful size and shape and scaleable for future growth Units to be of a useful size and shape and scaleable for future growth Open and improved access to river, possible walkway. Open and improved access to river, possible walkway. © Bishop’s Stortford Town Council

9. The Town Meads and Green Belt Stage 2 26 th November 2013 © Bishop’s Stortford Town Council9

10. 2020 Vision – Objectives A wide choice of activities needed for people of all ages A wide choice of activities needed for people of all ages Ease of access to all activities >> quality of life Ease of access to all activities >> quality of life Riverside to be easy to access, well-used and valued Riverside to be easy to access, well-used and valued Need for parks and open spaces to offer recreation and enjoyment, to be welcoming to wildlife and to protect our heritage. Need for parks and open spaces to offer recreation and enjoyment, to be welcoming to wildlife and to protect our heritage. © Bishop’s Stortford Town Council

11. Policies Development of Castle Gardens and Sworder’s Field to create new attractive areas for: Development of Castle Gardens and Sworder’s Field to create new attractive areas for: ornamental gardens ornamental gardens fitness and health activities fitness and health activities play (specifically, the creation of a new paddling pool, multi-use tennis courts, skate park and café) play (specifically, the creation of a new paddling pool, multi-use tennis courts, skate park and café) Development which improves access to the riverside and increases biodiversity of the riverside in The Meads expected as part of any development of the ASRs Development which improves access to the riverside and increases biodiversity of the riverside in The Meads expected as part of any development of the ASRs Support initiatives to conserve Castle Mound and improve access whilst ensuring protection. Professional digs to be arranged with findings on display either in situ or at Rhodes Museum. Support initiatives to conserve Castle Mound and improve access whilst ensuring protection. Professional digs to be arranged with findings on display either in situ or at Rhodes Museum. © Bishop’s Stortford Town Council

12. Strawman Meeting Schedule 17 December 17 December Policy text review – Town Centre and Meads? Policy text review – Town Centre and Meads? 7 January 2014 7 January 2014 Approve consultation copy, commence formal consultation Approve consultation copy, commence formal consultation 28 January 2014 28 January 2014 18 February 2014 18 February 2014 11 March 2014 11 March 2014 1 April 2014 1 April 2014 Early April TBD Early April TBD Approve final copy for Council Approve final copy for Council 28 th April TBD 28 th April TBD Council approval of examination copy Council approval of examination copy © Bishop’s Stortford Town Council Based on: October 2014 referendum target, 3 weekly meeting frequency