Notes of meeting
Attendees:
David Benham, Chair – Regeneration & Community Services Officer, MSDC
Fred Hillyer, Cedars Park Resident’s Association
Frank Whittle, Town & District Councillor
Dave Whitehead, Member of public
Gal Travis, Community Development Officer - MSDC
John Matthissen, Friends of the Earth
David Everett, Stowmarket Chamber of Commerce
Sandie Braidley, Friends of the Earth
Jon Pattle, The Stowmarket Society
Dave Norman, Project Officer, STC
1. Apologies
Phillip Pinchbeck.
2. Bus interchange
John Matthissen had prepared a presentation, on use of the scout hut site in Milton Road North as a bus interchange, which was well received. John and I both have copies (in Microsoft Powerpoint) if anyone would like one. It was felt to be an excellent site, given the other constraints on possible sites, and had been previously used by Combs Coaches to park 6 53 seat coaches.
Suffolk County Council Highways have been asked to look out the implications of siting a bus interchange almost directly opposite the town end of the new relief road.
3. Corn Exchange
Sandie Braidley expressed concern over the proposed sale of the Corn Exchange, and distributed a paper proposing its use for Farmers Markets, or other similar community use. Dave Norman gave a brief overview of the Town Council’s reasons for putting it on the market, stressing that if no acceptable offer was received within a six month sale window, it would be ‘back to the drawing board’ with possible uses of the building. He also pointed out that no really practical use had been found over the 12 years the building had been in Council ownership, partly due to problems with the building and drains, which had prevented previous planned uses from being implemented.
4. Cedars Park Village Centre Phase 2
Meetings have now been held between Mid Suffolk and Crest Nicholson. Before the next meeting on 14 December, DB wanted to clarify what community facilities should be provided, and he had brought copies of the original Local Plan, and Crest Nicholson’s plans for the second phase of the Village Centre with him. After much discussion, the following key points were agreed:
• The original Local Plan shows mainly community use, with some residential; the submitted plans reverse this, with high density residential and limited community. The original concepts should be retained.
• Community space is nowhere near large enough, or in the right location. A separate Community Hall is needed, with multiple use space (one large room, with or without partitions is insufficient), adequate parking, and access from a main road, to meet emergency services requirements.
• At least 6 shops are needed for sustainability, providing a range of local services, for example, a Post Office, hairdresser, take away etc.
• A new church, of any denomination, is needed.
• Space should also be allocated for a Public House, within walking distance of most housing.
• A new Health Centre, including GP’s surgery and dentist, and meeting PCT requirements, should be provided. It is not clear if the Crest plans would meet this.
• Social and Affordable housing should be dispersed throughout the development, and close to public transport routes.
• Further pre school nursery provision is needed. Proposals for this have been put forward, but no space has been provided.
The meeting also felt that an updated master plan for the entire development should be produced, or, at the very least, one to the end of the development.
Please click here for more information on the Cedars Park Local Centre and issues surrounding its development
5. Date and time of next meeting
Monday, 12 February 2007, 6pm, Tudor Room, Thorntree Centre, Milton Road South.
Please also note date and time for next main Town Forum meeting. This is Thursday, 22 March 2007 at 6pm, location still to be decided.
The meeting closed at 7.45 pm.
Dave Norman
Project Officer
Stowmarket Town Council
