The Square - TrustNews Mar 11
Decorated Bollard
The City and County Councils recently consulted the Trust on their proposals to reconstruct, repave and control traffic in The Square. The Trust’s response is reproduced below.
The Trust is very impressed with the work recently completed in the High Street and pleased to see that this is now to be continued into The Square.
We support the use of York stone flagstones for the footways and the use York stone paviors in part of the carriageway. We are disappointed that the paviors are not proposed for the whole length of The Square but recognise the financial constraints.
We fee l strongly that whatever material is used for that centre section, it should be easy to maintain and easy to match. The special light coloured material which we were shown seemed too specialised and impossible to match once disturbed by the utilities. We do not think surface dressing is appropriate either. We would support the reuse of the existing blocks in this part of the scheme. We think that the parking bays should be the same material as the main carriageway to minimise the number of different surface treatments.
We note the proposal to plant two trees within the scheme. Whist we support the use of street trees we do not feel they are essential in this street.
It is imperative that existing features such as the gas lamp and the stone kerbs in Great Minster Street are retained but we would like to see traffic signs (No entry etc) mounted more neatly with poles and lighting brackets of better quality and design. Within the Trust, there are very mixed views about decorated bollards, however, all agree that decorative artwork should only be used if it is to be regularly renewed and maintained.
We support any proposal that reduces traffic in the central area of Winchester and welcome these proposals to exclude traffic at certain times. However we feel that the exact timing of restrictions should be resolved through consultation with those businesses and residents most directly affected.
The Scheme has now been approved for construction in 2011 subject to the approval of traffic regulation orders to reduce traffic impact and the receipt of a financial contribution from Winchester City Council. Consideration is also being given to introduce a 20 miles per hour speed limit through the Square. A final decision is also awaited on the carriageway surfacing material.