'Depressing' sight of new development
Sir - The sketch of the proposed development which accompanied your report (Hotel group looks at town’s North project) last week is extremely depressing. Surely the removal of the out-of-scale 1963 Town Hall office-block should provide an opportunity to build something better in its place? Instead, we are presented with yet more dreary commercial elevations, without character, and with no regard to this important riverside setting.
The 1980s Town Hall buildings adjoining the office block on the west side at least attempted to provide something of visual interest, though not wholly successfully, but they too appear to be due for removal.
The Mayor has included the sketch in his ‘Reporting Back’ leaflet, in which he promises that ‘consultation on the look of the scheme will follow this year.’ However, once such a sketch is incorporated in the design brief, it will be very difficult to substitute something different.
This was the case with the proposed gigantic ‘classical’ block of flats nearby, now fortunately abandoned.
Could we start with development proposals which are not a pale imitation of Milton Keynes Central, or has nothing been learned from the planning mistakes of the past 50 years?
Richard Wildman Chairman of the Conservation Sub-Committee Bedford Architectural, Archaeological and Local History Society
Important site constraints
Sir - It is interesting to see that the council is planning to develop the Riverside North site, which includes the existing Borough Council buildings.
However, it is not so interesting to discover that the council has selected a developer for the site, without first having agreed the brief, the constraints and the content of the development.
Is this a case of the ‘cart before the horse’, or simply money talking? Some of the important constraints affecting any proposed development of this site are the following: The river environment is Bedford’s greatest asset. Each section of the riverside has its own character, and this should not be changed, without significant consideration, and consultation.
The Riverside Walk changes in character, as one walks from the town bridge, travelling west. This transition should be recognised, maintained and enhanced.
There has been much talk of the construction of the Batts Ford Bridge. It is suggested that space should be provided for the future construction of this bridge, and any proposals should consider the impact that this may have on the proposed development.
The roundabout, at the junction of Horne Lane and River Street, will have greater visual importance, if this development is constructed.
Consideration should be given to the environment being created surrounding this roundabout.
Traffic and car parking in the town centre is a problem.
Consideration should be given to the inclusion of a reasonable number of surface level car parking spaces, especially for evening use.
The height of the development is also of importance. There is no reason for the buildings to be ‘multi-storey’ and the height of the Court building should be respected.
Finally it is hoped that the council will adequately consult on any proposals for we have been excluded from the selection procedure, thus far.
Graham Wright Castle Road, Bedford
Proud of our people
Sir - 2012 brings two contrasting centenaries which may be of interest to Bedfordians.
The actor John Le Mesurier was born in Bedford in 1912. Famous as Sergeant Wilson of ‘Dad’s Army’, Le Mesurier was also a fine serious actor winning a BAFTA in 1971 for his part in the Dennis Potter play ‘Traitor’. Soon after his birth the family moved away to Bury St Edmunds. His was a short but significant connection with Bedford.
Also Bedford born was Richard Calvert Stafford. ‘Dick’ Stafford was not the first Bedford player to appear for England, but he was the first born and raised locally (he went to the Modern School) and to play for no other club than the Blues.
His talent was obvious when still young, making his debut at 15 and vice captain at 17, he was elected captain for the 1911-12 season at the age of 18. That season, still aged 18, he played all four home internationals for England.
Captain of Bedford again for the following season he played six games before being taken ill on October 27 and dying of spinal cancer on December 1, 1912.
His death at 19 years and four months remains the youngest of any England rugby international.
Unsurprisingly the town went into deep mourning. His funeral at St Mary’s Church was attended by great numbers, people lined the route to the cemetery, blinds were drawn and windows shuttered along the way. One hundred years on, with a successful Blues side still at the heart of Bedford life, Dick Stafford’s glorious but tragically short career can be remembered with pride this year.
Andrew Rome Pinchmill Way, Sharnbrook
Acting on own ideas
Sir - S Wilson (Bedfordshire on Sunday, January 1) asks why, if the humanists don’t like faith schools, they don’t start their own school.
The question shows that he misunderstands what the humanists are saying.
The humanists are arguing that schools which indoctrinate pupils into one faith, instead of informing them about all faith and non-faith positions, are bad for the pupils and bad for social cohesion in the long term.
This would equally apply to schools indoctrinating pupils into humanism. The humanists are acting on their own ideas rather than being hypocrites.
K S Northwood Armstrong Close, Wilstead
It’s up to the businesses
Sir - There is a false assumption in Mary Portas’ report that business determines the ‘marketing’ culture of High Streets.
In fact it is the public that create the cultural trends that determine the future of the high street, and businesses must accord with these trends.
The High Street businesses must draw customers for specific goods or a service that is not available online; is of sufficient value as a business to warrant the overhead costs of the High Street; and supplies a need that exceeds the transportation impediments.
It would seem to attract people to the High Street, the businesses should be specialised services with low overheads such as craftsmen jewellers, portrait painters and craftsmen potters.
The diversity of such a diverse population should also draw sufficient numbers to justify other leisure services such as cafes.
The overriding characteristics of such specialist businesses is that provided the premises have sufficient space for the craftsman to practise his craft there is little need for window or showroom space.
These would be ‘boutique’ businesses and ideally accommodated in craft communities to draw sufficient people to the High Street.
By dividing the High Street into specialist boutiques, the business footprint of smaller individual premises would still return reasonable rents and rates, but individual business overheads would be low enough to encourage craftsmen entrepreneurs.
As Mary Portas has pointed out the regeneration should be a ‘planned business venture’ by the current landlords of the properties and should be an architect designed pedestrian precinct of specialist arcades (allowing an increase in the tenancies) with perhaps common domestic services for boutique tenants.
A market research target objective should be to draw customers from outlying towns such as Luton and Milton Keynes with appropriate transport facilities and, in time, create a recognised attraction such as the Hay-on Wye booksellers John Burnett Station Road, Oakley
Much-needed rail boost
Sir - I enjoyed reading your review of 2011, but to me, one of the best bits of news coming Bedford’s way last year was that the Bedford - Oxford line is to be reopened.
Good news for our economy, environment and for anyone who wants to go west without a car! Surely now is the time for some thought to go into replacing the current overpriced disgrace of a station car park with a multi-storey (as at Luton and St Albans)? This would create more spaces, save us 500 yards walk in the rain and leave space for, say flats attractive to commuters and some shops.
A buck to be made there surely, I would have thought and a better Bedford for the rest of us, Peter Solomon Repton Close, Bedford
Planning worries
Sir - I am increasingly concerned about the Government’s planning reforms.
They’re right to talk about protecting Green Belts, National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty when decisions are made about where development should take place, but what about the 60 per cent of England’s countryside that is none of these things - like a lot of our local countryside? Since 1945, successive governments have protected the countryside for its own sake - which means thinking carefully before building in the countryside, and ensuring it is an option of last resort.
For almost 20 years there has been a requirement that land that’s been used before - brownfield land - should be developed before green fields.
The Government is proposing to abandon this policy, yet a new report by the Campaign to Protect Rural England demonstrates that the supply of brownfield land is increasing - there is enough to provide 1.5 million new homes.
Protecting the countryside and building on brownfield land go hand-in-hand.
Time is running out - I gather that Ministers are considering the final changes to their new planning policies.
If something is not done soon to get them to change their plans, much of our countryside will be at risk.
Readers can use the action on the Campaign to Protect Rural England’s website to write to their MP: www.cpre.org.uk
Susan Stevens Old Station Court, Blunham
