Landscape - TrustNews Spring 1993
In spite of Winchester City Council's spending restrictions there have been several street schemes undertaken with which we have been involved as these are designed by the City but funded by Hampshire County Council. The introduction of traffic calming measures to Upper Brook Street has been followed by schemes for Parchment Street which includes new lighting and we have been considering the design and type to be used.
Middle Brook Street also is in the planning stages and numerous other streets are being considered. Our objection to some of the features include the poor quality paving materials being used and the plethora of signs which are erected eg 20 mph when entering and derestriction when leaving the street. Signs also to indicate a residential parking zone and signs to show through traffic which direction to take. Other street signs which have appeared in abundance recently and caused considerable comment, are those indicating the HCC offices. We understand these were put up for the Association of County Council Conference which Winchester hosted this autumn but we question whether so many are needed permanently.
White signs with black lettering by the West Gate are alongside green signs with white lettering. What is the significance? Traffic signs have appeared in St George's Street duplicating those already in place. Can a motorist see the high notice on the left in Jewry Street as you enter from St George's Street? The River Park Leisure Centre has seven new large red signs to warn motorists about clamping. Are so many necessary?
We are taking up the matter of signs with the City officers responsible in an endeavour to clarify their policy as this apparently ad hoc system is ruining the appearance of many of the streets and historic buildings in the City.
We have commented on various planning applications including the extension to H M Prison. The first application we opposed the siting of the Staff Centre at the east end as it would adversely affect good trees. Also the West boundary left little space for tree and screen planting for the adjoining houses. The latest scheme has the Staff Centre at the west end and greater space on that boundary for planting. We consider the Romsey Road frontage proposed landscaping is inadequate and reiterated our request for more evergreen planting on top of the recently completed boundary retaining wall on this frontage where yew and holly were lost.
The Thuya in Wolvesey Palace garden
We objected to the felling of a very tall Thuya in Wolvesey Palace garden which is a great feature when seen from College Street against a background of deciduous trees and flanked by the view to the Cathedral and on the other side by Wolvesey Palace. Trees were lost in the storms in these grounds but this tree survives unscathed and we asked that a new major tree eg Lebanon cedar be planted and once well established the Thuya felled at a later date.
We commented on the proposals to develop West Downs School site. This includes 70 new houses and the conversion of the school building to 27 flats and community hall. We objected to the amount of parking spaces within the housing area (extra to garages and forecourt parking) and their intrusion into 'green' spaces. We did not consider that resiting the existing footpath along Romsey Road into the site as practicable due to changes in ground levels and would result in root damage to large trees. We also doubted whether this footpath, through thick planting, would be used in preference to the one on the east side of the road.
Pickfords Depository
An amended scheme for Pickfords Depository site was submitted and we are disappointed to see how much space is allocated to car parking with access up the bank from the station car park. We are sorry to see the previous arrangement to combine parking with the adjoining St Paul's church is not now included.
This autumn we have attended two meetings of the Winchester Town Centre Management Group and intend to continue to do so. It is an opportunity to get advance notice of City schemes and to comment at an early stage. Matters arising included High Street Lighting, Lottery Kiosk resiting, St Thomas Street/Little Minster Street area where improvements are being considered and a ramp for disabled to go by City Bridge and we asked to be informed in an endeavour to provide an aesthetically more pleasing solution than the ramp in St George's Street.
After seeing a report that HCC intended spending a considerable amount on road and pavement improvements to Sussex Street/Tower Street, which in our view are much needed, we had a meeting with the surveyors to discuss their proposals but this now appears to be 'put on hold' for the time being. The new lighting at the junction of Upper High Street and Romsey Road went ahead prior to getting planning permission or listed building approval. We consider it a gain to replace lighting columns with lights on walls but object to the utilitarian quality of the new lamps and junction boxes with wiring trailing conspicuously across the face of buildings. The extreme brightness of the floodlighting and the numerous high level sources of glare make the whole area uncomfortable to be in. We considered that a trial should have been held before any of this scheme was decided on and fixed into position. We understand that Winchester City Council were not consulted and as their High Street lighting scheme joins this area we consider this lack of co-operation is deplorable.
Traffic calming in Upper Brook Street
....and signs
Another matter with which we are concerned is the lack of care of trees and have advised the City officers of several in their area needing attention.
We have heard that the tops of bollards are to be painted bright yellow to assist their identification for the partially sighted. We agree the disabled need help to get around but what about all other posts and street furniture? Will it need painting too? We will be investigating the extent of the proposals.