1 February 2005
SHORTLIST OF LIVEABILITY PROJECTS IS
UNVEILED
A SHORTLIST of creative schemes that could soon
be transforming parts of Havant Borough as part of the £3.3M
Liveability project has been unveiled.
Design consultants, Roger Evans Associates,
have been working with residents and councillors on the borough's
six area community boards to come up with some bright ideas to
enhance their neighbourhoods. Imaginative ideas have also been
coming in from ordinary residents inspired by the scope and
possibilities created by Liveability.
From streets to shopping precincts, parks and
the seafront, 42 schemes to improve the borough have been
considered by councillors on the Strategic Liveability Board and a
shortlist of 13 projects will now be recommended to the council's
Executive for final approval next week (February 8).
The projects to be recommended to the Executive
are:
- Waterlooville Town Centre - Improvements to the north end
of the precinct that will create a gateway to the town centre and
include the underpass, art and a covered entertainment area.
- Havant - Improvements for East Street, North Street, Park
Road North and South, Homewell, as well as new gateway for Havant
Park and new play provision.
- Leigh Park - A small number of off-street car parking
schemes to set the scene for future development and improve the
appearance and usability of strategic through routes.
- Hayling Island - Improvements along the seafront and beach
from Eastoke Corner to Beachlands roundabout including a new plaza
at Eastoke Corner.
- Havant to Langstone Bridge corridor - a design including
lighting and improvements to North Hayling.
- Emsworth - Improvements to the main underpass at the
roundabout.
- Cowplain -Improvements to parking and shop fronts in Milton
Road and Eagle Avenue.
- New toilets at Greywell, in Leigh Park - including the
demolition of toilets at Front Lawn Recreation Ground.
- Waterlooville Recreation Ground, Rowlands Avenue - scheme
includes drainage, converting old allotment site, pathways and play
provision.
- Play areas and play provision - £400,000 has been set
aside for improvements to play areas to be agreed from a list of
priorities.
- Underpasses - art will be installed in underpasses around
the borough and where practical local schools and artists will be
involved.
- Roundabouts - new watering systems are planned along with
a design competition for a number of roundabouts in the
borough.
- Signage - New signs are planned at gateways, places of
interest and street names around the borough.
Where appropriate all projects and designs will include
lighting and safety improvements, artwork, play provision and
decluttering.
Havant Borough Council was awarded the £3.3M from the Office
of the Deputy Prime Minister after making a successful bid for a
share of £9M set aside for a pilot project to improve the outdoor
environment for everyone. The council is also using the project to
change the way it delivers some of its services to improve the
maintenance of and cleanliness of our streets and open
spaces.
"The aim is to encourage more people to use the urban and
green spaces in the borough, improving health and wellbeing,
encouraging a sense of community and discouraging anti-social
behaviour," said Liveability Manager, Joanne Penney. "It's about
making improvements now that will spark further regeneration in the
long-term by creating a design blueprint that will be carried on by
developers in the future."
"The shortlist that has been approved is full of exciting
projects that will make our outdoor spaces more attractive and
appealing and will hopefully encourage more people to get outside
and enjoy the improved outside environemt," she added. "But it
doesn't stop there. Although the project will finish next March,
development that has been inspired by Liveability should continue
to brighten the borough for years to come."
Liveability is not just about creating attractive and
appealing outdoor spaces, it's about making sure they stay that way
and £400,000 has been set aside to manage not only the newly
improved great outdoors but also the borough as a whole.
Measures being considered to keep outdoor spaces in the
borough green and pleasant include introducing bylaws and fines to
tackle anti-social behaviour like graffiti, litter, fly tipping,
and abandoned vehicles. Preventative steps including promoting
education, establishing a sense of pride of place through community
involvement and the provision of litter bins in the right places
are also on the agenda.
Detailed designs and plans will now be drawn up for the 13
projects on the shortlist. The schemes will then be put forward for
planning permission, consultation will be carried out and the
building work will be put out to tender.