Repaving of Winchester High Street - TrustNews August 09
During the coming year the pedestrian part of Winchester High Street is to be reconstructed and repaved in a major scheme prepared jointly by Hampshire County Council and Winchester City Council. The works are due to start in September 2009 and are expected to be completed towards the end of 2010 with a seven week break for city centre Christmas shopping in 2009. The work will be done in stages so that only part of the High Street is affected at any one time.
The Trust has been consulted on the choice of paving materials, on the layout of the paving and on the design of street furniture [seats, bins, signs etc].
The paving material will be natural York stone with a relatively smooth non slip texture [the existing slabs are concrete]. Flagstones will be used along each side, reflecting the former footways and smaller York stone setts will be used to pave the main thoroughfare. Bins, seats and signs have simple, high quality bespoke designs intended to maintain an uncluttered appearance. The design adopts a contemporary theme rather than reproducing a period style, but will respect and complement the historic setting. The designers hope that some art will be integrated into the overall design, aimed at promoting local distinctiveness through the involvement of artists and craftspeople in the design of key streetscape elements. The aim of any work will be to complement, and not compete with, the setting.
A small group of Trust Members met with the landscape designers and were impressed with the approach which they had taken and the design concept which they have developed. The Trust made a number of detailed comments which it is hoped will be taken on board.
Proposed seats have oak slats on steel supports