Spectre of 2003 Parking Plans Resurrected

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thamesweb	Spectre of 2003 Parking Plans Resurrected	Lead	[-]
Posts: 1421 (09/27/08 09:03:03) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Borough Announcement September 2008 Windsor parking proposals: council says 'tell us what you think' If you live, work, do business, shop or visit in Windsor the Royal Borough wants to hear your views on a range of options that could create nearly 2,000 more parking spaces in the town over the next decade. That's the message as the council launches its public consultation on the Windsor Parking Strategy, including a three-day exhibition at the Guildhall and the chance for people taking part to win £100 or family days out at LEGOLAND® Windsor. The proposals highlight the council's determination to a put residents' needs first, with three-stage options to provide more parking that will have noticeable benefits for the local community. Stage 1 options (2008 - 2009) 100 extra spaces at Home Park park and ride plus extending the evening hours of the bus service a 150-space weekend park and ride at Centrica, Maidenhead Road a 200-space weekend park and ride at King Edward VII Hospital - the car park could also be used in the evenings for people visiting the town centre continued improvements to on-street parking. Stage 2 options (2010 - 2013) 200 - 400 park and ride spaces at Windsor Racecourse, with a shuttle bus to the town centre a new footbridge linking the Dials multi-storey car park (used by the public at weekends) with Windsor and Eton Central station working with local businesses to encourage them to open their car parks for residents and visitors in the evenings and at weekends when they are not needed for staff. Stage 3 (2013 +) build parking decks over the existing surface car park at Alexandra Gardens, creating up to 400 additional spaces. This would be subject to securing planning approval and external funding. As the strategy develops, there are also proposals to upgrade travel information for the town with a new range of leaflets and website information to enable residents and visitors to make the best travel choice, by car, bus or rail. Cllr David Burbage, council leader, said that that finding solutions to Windsor's parking problems was one of the council's top priorities. He said: "The draft strategy is the result of considerable research, which means we can bring forward workable proposals that could potentially deliver significant benefits for Windsor people. "It is part of a bigger plan to improve local travel for pedestrians, cyclists and people using bus and train services and I am looking forward to getting the views of residents who know the town and can provide valuable feedback on these innovative proposals." Cllr Colin Rayner, lead member for highways, transport and the environment, said the consultation was an open, genuine way of getting residents' input. He said: "In Windsor everyone has a view about parking and now is the time for people to put those views across. We have put a great deal of thought into the three-stage options and we believe they are both practical and affordable - and will give the town the parking it requires to cope with residents' needs. It is also a sustainable way forward that uses existing facilities without draining the borough's valuable green space." "However, we are open to more ideas and different options from residents if they feel they can help find constructive a and achievable solutions to this key issue in Windsor." How to take part in the consultation The consultation begins this week with almost 60,000 freepost questionnaires being distributed to local homes along with the council's magazine, Around the Royal Borough. Everyone who sends back a response by Friday October 31 will be entered into a free draw with prizes including £100 cash and family days out at LEGOLAND® Windsor (kindly donated by LEGOLAND® Windsor). An exhibition providing more details about the options will be staged at the Guildhall, High Street, Windsor, on: Thursday October 16 (4 - 6pm) Friday October 17 (10am - 6pm) Saturday October 18 (10am - 1pm) During these times council staff will be available to provide further information and answer questions. Council staff will also be out and about in the town centre distributing questionnaires and encouraging people to give their views. The council will be using modern technology to flag up the consultation by sending SMS text messages to 4,000 local people, pointing them to the council's website www.rbwm.gov.uk where responses can be submitted online. Displays of the options will also be mounted at Waitrose (King Edward Court) and the visitor information centre at Royal Windsor Shopping. Additional leaflets will be available at the council's Windsor office in York House, Sheet Street as well as libraries, the first stop shops at Datchet, Eton, Sunningdale and Sunninghill, and both Windsor and Charters Leisure Centres.
thamesweb	We have been here before... Comments from 2003	#1	[-]
Posts: 1422 (09/27/08 09:12:32) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	May 2003 Lib Dem Council Scrap Car Park Development Plans The area that would have been affected by the proposed three storey car park The newly elected Liberal Democrat Borough council have announced that they will scrap plans to extend parking at Alexandra Gardens by adding two decks to the existing surface car park. The prime reason for this was that the only access would have been at the junction of Alma Road and Arthur Road. This was unacceptable. The plans also included the closure of Barry Avenue, the removal of the current parking spaces there, and the transformation of that entire length of roadway to a pedestrian area. January 2003 Major Changes after Consultation Anger Local Residents Single storey and 100 car parking spaces becomes 540 spaces and three storeys In January 2002 The Royal Borough published a Draft Development Brief for the area around Alma Road and Alexandra Gardens following a vociferous and successful public campaign against a 502 space multi-storey car park to the rear of 51-87 Arthur Road, and the destruction of a row of terraced houses that included Sydney and Fred Camm's boyhood home. These plans were withdrawn on 31st March 1999 In the subsequently published colour leaflet on the subject in March 2002, (the snappily titled "Improving the Riverside Alexandra Gardens and Alma Road for Windsor"), the proposed parking changes were described as being a "new parking deck over part of the surface car park at Alexandra Gardens". Note the description, 'deck' and 'part'. The current car park area was highlighted in pink and captioned "Indicative zone of replacement parking". Note 'replacement parking' NOT "substantially increased parking". The leaflet went on to say "Great care will be taken to retain the railway arches, to ensure that the design is totally in keeping with the distinctive character of the area and does not exceed the height of the viaduct... Government guidelines currently indicate that the council cannot increase parking in this area." It was this document, and these reassurances, that local residents were invited to comment upon and, claim the Borough, supported. It is patently obvious to us that this was a total misrepresentation of the plans that the borough actually had, or, major changes to the plan have been made since, and no consultation of any kind has taken place. Extract from an earlier editorial "Congestion in Arthur Road is now so severe that tail-backs to the relief road and even the M4 are now commonplace. Any addition to the number of car parking spaces in the town centre will further exacerbate the situation to an intolerable level. RBWM accept this, as stated in The Town Plan, Page 6.11, para 6.6.18, "At present, most traffic entering Windsor does so via Arthur Road, Clarence Road or Alma Road from the Windsor and Eton Relief Road. In terms of environmental capacity, all these routes are reaching saturation. In order to relieve these roads and also the central area from long-stay traffic, an alternative to parking provision within the town needs to be considered." Yet in January 2003 a three storey car park is in the offing using precisely the same access roads that were previously dismissed as being at saturation point. January 24th 2003 Local papers report claims of 'gridlock' The Observer this week has reported that a three-tier, 540 space, multi-storey car park is planned to replace the spaces currently available at Alma Road/Alexandra Gardens. Tory councillor Peter Spooner presented the proposals at a recent planning meeting as part of plans for the area around Alexandra Gardens, which includes the pedestrianisation of Barry Avenue, the removal of parking there, and the closure of the access road to the present car park. The effect will be to force all traffic to use the Alma Road, Arthur Road junction which is already heavily overloaded by traffic to and from Windsor Dials, King Edward Court and Victoria Street car parks and the adjacent coach park. Cllr. Spooner claims that "major consultation has been carried out." We would like to make it clear that NO CONSULTATION was undertaken for this aspect of the scheme, and any claims that the local residents would support Cllr. Spooner's proposals is a total distortion of the truth. Consultation a Sham claims Alma Road resident "...no mention of the fact that ... they would be getting a huge 540 space three-storey car park" Dear Editor With reference to your ongoing feature on this topic, I wish to express my concern and dismay at the inevitability of the Alexander Gardens/Alma Road development in Windsor. I have seen the council's recent statement outlining the final development package submitted for Cabinet approval and I think all Windsor residents should reflect on what is being proposed and how its been contrived. If one studies the responses to the Alexander/Alma Road consultation, one will find that nearly everyone wanted improvements to Alexandra Gardens but when it came to a new car park and the building of flats on Alma Road, concerns were raised from all sides of the community. This key factor seems to have been conveniently overlooked in formulating the final proposal. There appears to be a dangerous culture creeping into the Council which implies "We've done a consultation so everything is now OK." I believe that people have been misled, with this innocent type of the preliminary consultation. It made no mention of the fact that by going along with signing up to the improvements to Alexander Gardens, they would be getting a huge 540 space three-storey car park, plus 64 housing units with residents parking. I think this exposes the consultation as a sham. It is important to ensure that the residents of Windsor know exactly what is being proposed - apart from the modifications to Alexander Gardens, the Council plan to build a massive multi-storey car park, situated so close to the Brunel Arches it will spoil their architectural presence. Access to and from the new car park will be through the single archway in the railway viaduct on Alma Road/Arthur Road, which is shared with coaches, using the coach park. As for the 64 flats, they present the highest density possible in an area which is already probably the most densely populated in the Royal Borough - again with its on-site resident parking area which will also add more traffic movements in and out of the same access junction. With all this added traffic, the existing road system will not cope - it cannot cope as it is! There are genuine fears that Windsor will become gridlocked. Another unacceptable attitude of the Council is its refusal to involve our elected Ward Councillors when significant changes are being proposed in their Ward. I have tried to seek further information from my Ward Councillor, only to be told that they do not know - they only kept abreast of the situation when it suits the council! The Alexander Garden plan as proposed, is neither viable nor a practical solution for the town. If the council persist with the cavalier approach to planning by ignoring essential facts and the underlying concerns of residents then this development, like others in Windsor will inevitably have a detrimental effect on the town's ability to address the needs of the local community. Yours sincerely Alma Road Resident An exchange of emails with Cllr. Keith Evans From Keith Evans, Trinity Ward I see the proposed multi-storey car park in Alexandra Gardens is causing concern amongst residents. I understand the confusion as to the size and capacity of the structure and the fear of congestion this will bring. However, nothing has yet been decided as to the detail, only a schematic drawing, produced for a parking forum meeting at the end of last year, which showed the maximum capacity the car park could be, a 3 storey, 540 space facility. In actual fact the eventual design, by law, must not provide a net gain in parking, simply replace the spaces lost in the closure of Barry Avenue and the existing surface car park in Alma Road. That is why the previous multi-storey car park in Alma Road, proposed by the Lib. Dems. fell through, it was intended to provide some 500 spaces. This means it can only have a maximum overall capacity of 350 spaces, which includes the existing 150 spaces in Alexandra Gardens at the present time. The net increase of 200 spaces come from 80 in Barry Avenue and 120 on the surface car park. The height of the structure itself will not be above the railway viaduct, even if 3 storey, so views of it will not be altered. The proposal, once it is finalised, will have to go through the normal planning process and therefore, as required by law, will have to allow additional local comment. In the meantime, the Borough will be sending out a detailed consultation document to get feedback from local residents. The original consultation, amongst other things, was for opinion in principle to building additional decks and gave reason as replacing the surface car park and Barry Avenue spaces, no actual detail was offered. I hope that helps alleviate any fears residents may have, at least people should know the idea is not a "done deal" and is still very much open to public opinion. From Editor, Thamesweb Many thanks for the clarification. I assume that cars, when parked on the top level of the car park, will be below the level of the arches as the track descends towards the river crossing. Also, I hear rumours that Barry Avenue could be reopened through the arches to provide access to the car park. A lot of us would also like to know where we are at with Park and Ride. From Keith Evans, Trinity Ward I am told the only visible part will be the lift tower. It will be situated more towards the town end of the arches so there will be the advantage of more height. Barry Avenue could be a possible entrance. It is part of the ongoing discussion with the Borough engineers now. The Park and Ride is still planned and more work has been done on this in the last 2 years than ever before. Problem is that it will be situated on Slough Council land meaning there has had to be a lengthy round of discussions, they had an election last year which stalled things. There is no chance that the Alexandra Gardens car park will exclude the option for a Park and Ride scheme as all that is happening is a combining of three different areas of existing spaces into one, no net gain. Anyone suggesting otherwise is up for election in 2 months, and as I said more has been done in 2 years, than 10 of a previous Council body, who now seem to think it is a good idea! From Editor, Thamesweb I personally do not consider the Park and Ride Scheme to be much of a solution, motorists being what they are. I was going to check how well used the Legoland scheme was - but then it got suspended until the end of March! For office and shop workers, the concept of parking some distance from their destination and waiting for a bus to take them into town and back again, whilst marooning them from their cars throughout the day, is not appealing, especially as the waiting and travel time could add 40 minutes (20 minutes each way, each day) or even longer. For shoppers the facility is probably a total non-starter too, unless they are going into town to buy a pencil sharpener! The prospect of struggling on and off a bus, plus additional walking and waiting, with their various bags and boxes precludes the use of the service, except by the most hardy. If I want to go to Waitrose, I use Sunningdale (or is it Sunninghill - never could remember) because I can park outside their door! Dragging loads of bags on and off a bus, after a lengthy wait in all weathers just does not appeal to me. Tourists could possibly be tempted to use Park and Ride if the 'ride' element into the town centre was enticing, Walt Disney style, where visitors seem perfectly happy to be parked in the next state, when given a 'fun ride' into Disneyland. Park and Ride will not solve the problem caused by those who seek free parking in the Green Lane, York Avenue, York Road area and elsewhere on the outskirts, even parking on both sides of a sharp bend, and on double yellow lines. I am aware that the police have one or two other things on their minds at the moment, but surely the odd blitz on illegal parking could be arranged just once or twice?? I trust that the consideration of opening up Barry Avenue does not include the wrecking of the existing arches a la Alma Road. That would be vandalism! Access to Barry Avenue via Vansittart Road is certainly a non-starter, so that leaves the circuitous route past the Leisure Centre - and anyway the route does nothing to alleviate traffic in Arthur Road. There is nothing for it... Ma'am is going to have to give permission for a discrete parking area in Frogmore! On the subject of the local elections, we are planning a section devoted to it. I see we will have mobile voting booths outside train stations, etc... I must do a cartoon of a frustrated voter running down the street waving his pencil having just missed his booth!! From Keith Evans, Trinity Ward Park and Ride will have a novel method of getting into town, by train. Not quite Disney but certainly not Mickey Mouse! My belief is that this will only be attractive to day visitors who come by car, and a few workers, (as the train will bring them right into the centre of town and be more reliable than a bus in traffic), and that's it. Not a waste of time and money but only a part of the whole solution. That is why the effort to improve the parking has been done in 3 stages. Park and Ride at Legoland is a useless facility for workers not just because of the hassle it brings but simply because it doesn't have a bus service until 10am and finishes at something like 5pm! Ridiculous and it appears to be out of the borough's control. Our thanks to Cllr. Keith Evans for his time in putting his point of view and clarifications. History, March 2002 New Plans announced for Sir Sydney Camm's House, Car Parks, Barry Avenue and Alexandra Gardens In March 2002 Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council announced plans to improve the area around the northern end of Alma Road and the adjacent car parks together with improvements to Alexandra Gardens, Barry Avenue and the riverside promenade. The plans stem from a successful campaign mounted by local residents in the summer of 1999 to halt the proposals being put forward at the time. These plans included the demolition of the terraced houses pictured above, which included the birthplace and childhood home of one of our most innovative aircraft engineers, Sir Sydney Camm, designer of the Hurricane aircraft amongst a number of others. The plans provided for the construction of a large roundabout and access roads plus a car park for some 500 vehicles. For local residents the project was totally unacceptable and a campaign was launched to oppose them. The matter caught the attention of the national press and even generated a letter from an amazed former Luftwaffe pilot in Austria! The full story is available here. The revised plans retain the terraced homes in the immediate area, with additional parking provision and low-cost housing, plus a major refurbishment of the riverside in this part of Windsor. Car parking provision is retained at a similar level although the plans include the pedestrianisation of Barry Avenue with the loss of approximately 100 parking spaces. These spaces are to be replaced by additional parking on a new, second parking deck above the existing car park adjacent to Alexandra Gardens. A Consultation Form was published by Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council outlining the plans and inviting comment. These leaflets are available from York House, Sheet Street, Windsor. This leaflet, plus a draft development brief may also be downloaded from The Royal Borough Consultation Area An Exhibition featuring the proposed changes was held at the following locations around Windsor. 14th - 17th March 2002 Windsor Leisure Centre, Stovell Road 18th - 22nd March 2002 The Guildhall, High Street 25th - 28th March 2002 Windsor Library 2nd - 5th April 2002 York House, Sheet Street The consultation report showing support for the plan was published by the Royal Borough in May 2002 and is reproduced below. Consultation Backs Windsor Riverside and Alma Road Schemes Tuesday, 21 May 2002 Windsor people have given their overall backing to the Royal Borough's plans to improve the important Riverside area of the town and for an innovative housing scheme at Alma Road. A report to cabinet, meeting on Thursday evening (May 23), highlights the results of the recent six-week public consultation, which Cllr. Peter Spooner described as "welcome and far-sighted approval" for the innovative and ambitious initiative. The lead member for capital assets and strategic infrastructure said: "These plans will enable us to make the most of one of Windsor's most popular assets the riverside area of the Thames. At the same time they give us a unique opportunity to provide much-needed town centre housing, including affordable housing, at Alma Road. Historians are also happy that we have been able to retain the former home of Sir Sidney Camm. "The consultation attracted considerable local interest and I am delighted that so many people have given their approval for these far-sighted and exciting plans." Consultation results - 223 responses received Riverside 63% of respondents in favour of closing Barry Avenue to traffic to enable the riverside gardens to be extended to the river's edge, with improvements and landscaping; 77% agreed to proposed safety improvements. Alma Road 81% in favour of refurbishing the existing properties at Alma Road, including the Sir Sidney Camm house; 58% in favour of using the car park for new homes. Alexandra car park 62% agreed with the proposal for appropriately designed decked parking to replace the space lost at Alma Road. The consultation also showed that, while 54% of respondents agree a modified Alma Road/Arthur Road junction will provide adequate access to the new homes and the car park, there is still some local concern. Cllr Spooner said: "We appreciate some people are worried that the junction will not have the capacity to cope with additional traffic they feel will be generated by the new homes - so we will be carrying out further work on this aspect of the project to minimise any potential effects on the roads in the area." Following the consultation, cabinet will now be asked to approve the development brief for Alma Road, maintaining parking for residents and access to the Windsor Dials car park, which is used by members of the public at weekends. Members will also be asked to agree that detailed designs and estimates be prepared for Windsor Riverside and Alexandra Gardens car park, with a further report to cabinet before a planning application is submitted later in the year. Progress and Next Steps on Agenda for User Forum Monday, 18 November 2002 Progress on the Royal Borough's Windsor parking strategy - and what happens next - are on the agenda for next week's user forum (Monday November 25 2002). Chaired by lead member Cllr Peter Spooner, the meeting will give an up-date on the recently-introduced on-street parking arrangements and council enforcement, and look forward to the introduction of variable message signs which will give drivers real time information about the availability of car park spaces. Also on the agenda are the plans for extending Alexandra Gardens car park, in conjunction with improvements to Windsor Riverside, and the creation of additional spaces at the Home Park park and ride facility. There will also be a progress report on the council's long-term plans for a park and ride at junction 6 of the M4 motorway. Cllr Spooner issued a warm welcome to local people to come along and hear the discussions about these important initiatives. He said: "The aim of the forum is to look at the issues, initiate discussion and generate ideas which we can investigate to see if they are feasible and then bring forward formal proposals for consultation. "Finding solutions to Windsor's congestion and parking problems is a council priority and, with constructive help from the local community, we have made a great deal of progress so far. The variable message signs will be another important step forward when they are introduced in January and now we want to look further ahead to make even more improvements which will be of benefit to the entire community. "The council remains firmly committed to our long-term plan for a park and ride at junction 6 and we are having on-going discussions with Slough Borough Council to progress this." The user forum took place on Monday November 25 2002 in Windsor Boys' School, Maidenhead Road.
thamesweb	What is more W S Atkins have been here before too	#2	[-]
Posts: 1423 (09/27/08 09:17:19) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Back in 1997 the borough commissioned a report from specialist consultancy company W S Atkins. We have their four part report. It did not support the regurgitated proposals detailed in the September 2008 launch of another 'consultation'. Notes about the original W S Atkins report here
tranceboy81	Does the issue go beyond parking?	#3	[-]
Posts: 14 (10/05/08 06:28:41) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I feel as though the council have an obligation to look at the 'big picture' rather than focusing on the issue of this one car park in isolation. One must also consider levels of traffic within the town, parking for visitors, parking for residents, parking for businesses, air quality, noise levels, public transport, the aesthetics of the situation (even the 'most beautiful car park' is still a car park), fiscal responsibility, the list goes on. I don't wish to labour the point, however, I honestly believe that building a town centre car park of this nature demonstrates a decidedly old fashioned, dare I say conservative attitude. I know, that there are many who disagree, including those who's opinions I respect, however, having lived in the town my entire life, I for one am certain that the re-hashed Alexandra Gardens parking plan would be a disaster. Many of the tourists who visit the town come by coach or by train anyway, so no help there. Rightly, or wrongly, many residents want to park outside their own homes. Perhaps a little unreasonable given the nature of town centre living but a point of view held by many. Most would be reluctant to use this car park for anything other than a last resort. Parking for businesses and shoppers? Well we already have the King Edward Court car park (recently refurbished) for town centre shoppers. As for those small business, pub and restaurant owners in the town, most of their customers share the same dilemma as the residents. They want to park outside. Above all, this plan would force more traffic onto the already chocked bottleknecks of Alma Road, Clarence Road and Arthur Road. All single lane roads which are grid-locked for large portions of the week and most of the weekend. I have also read that the abandonment of the park and ride scheme would lead to the loss of a £7 million grant which could not be transferred to the Alexandra Gardens scheme, leaving the council no option but to fund the car park themselves or take out a loan. Either way, this would result in either an increase in council tax, or a cut in vital services in other areas. Finally, the aesthetics of the situation. Now this is a tricky one. I fully respect that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, however, in my opinion, car parks are rarely objects of beauty. Where you put them is a tough choice. I for one would prefer it, out of town, stuck between the M4, a dual carriage way and a railway line than smack bang in the centre of town. I am sure you can gather by now that I am not in favour of this scheme. I favour the out of town park and ride scheme with the use of buses and an increase in the rail service. Not only would it ease parking problems, it would take a lot (not all), of the traffic out of the town centre. I for one find all the political wrangling rather sad and frustrating. Is it just me that thinks the letters section of the Windsor & Eton reads more like a children arguing than councillors doing what they were elected to do? Why not focus more on doing something sensible than points scoring? Do we lack the levels of maturity in our local politics to embark on a bi-partisan endeavour to resolve this problem?
thamesweb	Windsor parking proposals: exhibition opens this week	#4	[-]
Posts: 1507 (10/15/08 02:27:30) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Options for providing up to 2,000 more parking spaces in Windsor go on public display this week with a three-day exhibition in the Guildhall, High Street. The exhibition opens on Thursday (October 16) and runs until Saturday (October 18), giving residents, businesses, visitors and community organisations the opportunity to look at the Royal Borough's parking options for the future and give their views. Everyone taking part in the consultation will have the chance to win £100 or family days out at LEGOLAND® Windsor. The exhibition opening times are: · Thursday October 16 (4 - 6pm) · Friday October 17 (10am - 6pm) · Saturday October 18 (10am - 1pm). During these times council staff will be available to provide further information and answer questions. Cllr Colin Rayner, lead member for highways, transport and environment, urged everyone in the community to take part in the consultation. He said: "This is the biggest and most important consultation on potential solutions to Windsor's parking problems and we need the views of everyone who parks in the town. It is a genuine consultation: no decisions will be made until we have feedback from everyone who wants to take part. I hope to see lots of people at the exhibition itself but there are many other ways of giving your views if you can't make it to the Guildhall this week." Displays of the options will also be mounted at Waitrose (King Edward Court) and the visitor information centre at Royal Windsor Shopping. Council staff will be out and about in the town centre on Thursday, Friday and Saturday distributing questionnaires. Almost 60,000 questionnaires have been distributed to local homes along with the autumn edition of the council's magazine, Around the Royal Borough. Additional questionnaires are available at the council's Windsor office in York House, Sheet Street as well as libraries, the first stop shops at Datchet, Eton, Sunningdale and Sunninghill, and both Windsor and Charters Leisure Centres. Responses may also be submitted online at the council's website www.rbwm.gov.uk The closing date is Friday October 31.