Data Loading...
Darlaston strategic regeneration Framework: walkabout Flipbook PDF
4 station street walkabout to start off the consultation and engagement process for the Darlaston strategic regeneration
100 Views
93 Downloads
FLIP PDF 1MB
Darlaston strategic Regeneration Framework: walkabout
June 2009
For all matters regarding this project please contact Helen Flage by calling: 0161 200 5500 or e-mailing: [email protected] or posting: URBED, 10 Little Lever Street, Manchester, M1 1HR
contents Walkabout
04
Area A - Town Centre
6
Area B - Rough Hey
8
Area C - Woods Bank
10
Area D - Kings Hill
11
Area E - Station Street
12
Area F - Victoria Road
13
Station Street
walkabout To start off the consultation and engagement process for the Darlaston Strategic Regeneration Framework , a walkabout took place in Darlaston on Thursday 4th June 2009. A group consisting of local councillors and representatives from Walsall Council took members from the consultant team on
ATTENDEES Local
Cllr Adrian Andrew – Deputy leader and Portfolio
Authority
holder for regeneration Cllr Chris Bott – Ward Cllr Darlaston South
a walk around Darlaston to help understand the issues and
Cllr Paul Bott – Ward Cllr Darlaston South
opportunities the area faces now and in the future.
Cllr Graham Wilkes – Ward Cllr Darlaston South Cllr Keith Chambers – Ward Cllr Bentley and
The Walkabout visited six areas, as shown by the plan
Darlaston North
opposite. The exercise was done to allow specific issues,
Cllr Bill Madeley – Ward Cllr Bentley and
opportunities and priorities to be raised whilst walking in a
Darlaston North
specific site context, by people who know the area a lot more personally than we ever will.
Client Team
Rob Andrews – Development Team
What follows are some of the main points of discussion
Helen Kindon – District Centre Manager
raised during the walk together with a selection of photos
Nick Bird – Major Projects Director (Walsall
from each of the focus areas.
Regeneration Company) Alison Hayward – Development Team (Walsall
This exercise is by no means exhaustive, or representative of
Housing Group)
a complete picture of Darlaston, but it does provide a foot in
Fred Gleeson – Chair Moxley Project Reference
the door of understanding the issues faced locally by parts of
Group and Manager of Moxley Peoples Centre
Darlaston. We will follow this exercise with further workshops that will reveal and record more issues and opinions that we will have to consider in our work in Darlaston. Following the Walkabout there will be a roundtable consultation with key stakeholders to discuss issues in more detail on the 2nd July.
Richard Chadwick – Team Leader Development
Consultant
David Rudlin - URBED, Director
Team
Helen Flage - URBED, Lead Project Manager Jonathan Brown, URBED, Senior Consulltant Paul Bower, URBED, Urban Designer Jonathan Tutt, DTZ, Project Manager Stephen Lucas, SQW Project Director
Legend Darlaston Regeneration Area Mini-bus Route Walkabout Area Area A - Town Centre Area B - Rough Hay Area C - Woods Bank Area D - Kings Hill Area E - Station Street Area F - Victoria Road
King Street and the ASDA facade
King Street and children playing
Bar (Former Bank) on Pinfold Street
King Street and vacant units
Surestart, Church Street
Mixed services on Church Street
pedestrian.
■
Area A - Town Centre
The Owen Memorial Garden is hidden by the presence of the ASDA store, disconnecting it visually and physically from the civic centre of Darlaston. Although it was noted
■
■
Fundamental cause of Darlaston’s problems is erosion of
that the mature trees do well to obscure the large blank
manufacturing jobs.
façade of the supermarket behind.
Unemployment has had an large impact on the town
■
The number of cars in ASDA’s car park shows people are willing to make the journey to the store
centres prospects with much of the depleted income going to ASDA as opposed to the rest of the High Street (King Street)
■
ASDA site used to be a Methodist church and a network of small streets. Its lack of activity on King Street is very
■
regrettable.
The High Street lacks the range of goods and services a town of Darlastons size should possess and it was felt that ASDA had a direct and ongoing influence in this
■
King Street has been pedestrianised for several decades
current situation. The only national retailer on King Street
now and has been generally accepted, although the
is Boots, not ignoring the two bookmakers of Coral and
street becomes dead when the shops close in the
William Hill.
evenings. With the exception of some children who sometimes gather on bicycles or with a football – as was
■
The current ASDA store is actually the second store the
the case when we were leaving. This was seen as both a
supermarket has had on the site; formerly it did have
positive and negative side effect.
entry off King Street, but since the rebuild it has turned its one active frontage towards its large surface car park
■
There is a feeling that the newer buildings that have
to the south of the store. This lack of integration with the
replaced the original Victorian High Street have not
town centre is a key issue that needs addressing.
been of a good enough design and build quality and are failing as a result of this. Despite good examples of
■
The ASDA store receives regular deliveries along New
contemporary design locally in the Surestart centre to the
Street, where large vehicles turn in and out of the
east of King Street and the swimming pool to the north of
service yard making this a street quite treacherous for a
the centre.
Library, King Street from south
Town Hall and the Swan Pub on Victoria Road Empty unit in restored shop, Church Street
The Leys, carparks and leftover verge
Dovecot in Victoria Park
Darlaston Bus Station beside ASDA’s carpark
■ ■
To the north and south of King Street there are high levels
There was consensus that King Street should be
of traffic together with regular high speed vehicles (quad
transformed, the work should explore opening up
bikes and customised cars) cruising around the centre.
King Street again to traffic and site assembly and redevelopment opportunities assessed.
■
The current bus shelters are isolated from the town and facilities poor. There is potential to redevelop this site
■
■
King Street needs animating with activity from both the
and surroundings and relocate the bus station more
ASDA store and other uses, such as market stalls
centrally.
The internet cafe was closed, the reason was unknown
■
The Pinfold Street block presents a poor gateway to the town on a strategic route, this area needs to be a focus
■
for improvement
The town centre lacks any night time activity, with the exception of the former bank, on the southern tip of King Street, which is now a popular Gay Bar in the evening.
■
Victoria Park’s dovecot and bird bath divide opinion due to the high level of investment. The dovecot appears
■
■
The library is seen as a real success in Darlaston and is
to be well used, notwithstanding the large number of
valued by the local community as an accessible resource
pigeons but the bird bath has been fenced off and
and educational venue for life long learning.
appears to be in disrepair.
New signage is generally disliked, and appears to have
■
Town Hall is currently underused, in spite of current
only been placed in the centre recently; although no-one
investments and requires assistance in bringing more
seems to know who is responsible for it. The lack of
people in to use it. Ideas welcome. – Publicity?
any map or quality, accurate and consistent signage is apparent to all.
■
The former multi use recreation centre is in the process of being demolished, however its sign outside the town
■
hall is still present – its loss raises mixed responses.
The bike shop on Church Street has vacated the premises due to persistent vandalism
■
Bus services draw another mixed response with some
Pinfold Street and the derelict shop units
Recently installed signage on King Street
Side street off King Street
Boarded up semis on Lowe Avenue
Local centre at junction of Rough Hay Rd and Hall Street
View back towards the spire of St Lawrence on Rough Hay Road
councillors saying how well the buses serve Darlaston, as
■
■
Town Hall has had £500k spent a year or so back but
they are the only real means of public transport on offer.
still needs gutters clearing; should be used to provide
On the other hand several responses raised questions
managed workspace for local enterprises to rent – this
over the reliability and quality of the bus service currently
would generate a revenue to sustain the building. It is
available.
still used for plays and events.
The social clubs and pubs to the north of the roundabout
■
Darlaston had its own council; it’s good that Walsall
adjacent to St. Lawrence’s church are surrounded by
have maintained a presence – local neighbourhood
a large amount of car parking and unused open space
partnership meet there, perhaps council could ‘rotate’
– however it was mentioned that these are well used by
from Walsall sometimes?
the local residents. (The Leys)
■ ■
■
Employers like GKN and Rubery Owen were enlightened
built on an area of cleared terraced houses, now they
– they were owned by families from the West Midlands
themselves are cleared whilst terraces on King Edward
and looked after their employees.
Street are seen as nice houses.
Staff canteens, unions and social clubs helped cement
■
social solidarity and support the wider community.
■
The former tower blocks on St. Lawrence Way were
Church Street once lined with shops. Nissen hut is the
http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/articles/ DarlastonAlbum/Album2.htm
Area B - Rough Hay
old Drill Hall. War memorial was built on the site of an old house – found a lavish wine cellar when building the memorial!
■
Houses largely owned by Walsall Housing Group, received Decent Homes, but quality and condition of gardens and public realm could be improved. There are
■
Cottage next to the Post Office has an historic ‘dovery’ in the garden.
some vacant properties.
Locked up and empty sports ground, Hall St
Gates to George Rose Park, Wolverhampton St
View up Stafford Road
Hidden sports ground, Hall St
Former Factory for sale, Stafford Road
New housing on Willenhall Street
■
The recreation ground on Hall Street is on a long lease to
tenants are struggling to stay afloat. Further more the
the Darlaston Community Association from the Council.
original planters designed for the local centre have since
It has received much investment (all weather pitches,
been removed due to creating unforeseen anti-social
floodlighting etc) but not well used or managed by the
behaviour. There was a dead tree which needed to be
community association. The all-weather pitches on Hall
removed.
Street are currently locked and out of use.
■ ■
Rough Hay suffers from a large proportion of
There is a possibility of the resource being used by the
unemployed and benefit dependency – no exact figures
forthcoming academy as sports facilities for both children
were quoted. This is seen as a major hurdle in attracting
and adults in the evening – this idea was welcomed as a
further investment in the area.
possible alternative to current plans.The bowling green also used to be the best in the area, uncertainty over who
■
runs and manages it now, but appears underused.
The surgery on Rough Hay Road appeared to be locked-up (Half-day closing on Thursdays?) behind an unforgiving palisade fence.
■
The proposed Academy on George Rose Park is at an advanced stage – however the scheme faces opposition
■
The adjacent site to the surgery was formerly the
from those who see it removing vital mature green space
Neighbourhood Centre – but due to vandalism and
from Rough Hay.
misuse this facility was demolished and the site remains empty and fenced off.
■
The local centre at the junction of Rough Hay Road and Hall Street has had recent investment in its public
■
There was a general consensus that children were under
realm together with money (£100K) for a safe walk to
provided for in the area – as there was no centre or
school scheme. The outward appearance is pleasant
managed place for them to go to, which seems illogical
although we are made aware that the lay-by dimensions
with the Hall Street recreation ground possibility.
make it hard to capture passing trade and the current
Secluded and hidden park on Kings Hill
East entry to Kings Hill Park
New playground to the west of Kings Hill
Kings Hill primary school, Old Park Road
Factory Building, Station Street
Salisbury School, Station Street
undervalued and virtually invisible – local kids deserve to
■
New Academy on George Rose Park will take some of
be able to access and use it. Considerable money spent
the space but release funds to restore the remainder
(possibly Lottery funded) on astro-turf, floodlighting,
to a high standard; it will also be a flagship educational
new roof for changing rooms etc. but gates are always
facility. The Academy does cause some controversy due
locked.
to its sponsor.
■ ■
This was the former GKN social club. (Should pull back
George Rose Park has already enjoyed £150k of NRF for
fence if possible to allow wider pavement – gets very
a new playground and skatepark. Former park keeper’s
busy with children from the school)
house has been refurbished.
■ ■
■
‘Belgian Houses’ on Wolverhampton Street took people
Local primary schools ‘punch above their weight’ but
from occupied Europe during and after WWII. They are
senior schools less so.
in need of some repair.
Kings Hill Park will benefit from £200k of Section 106
Area C - Woods Bank
from the TIW residential site allocation (Woden Road).
■ ■
■
Dangerfield Lane being pleasant enough council ‘garden
In Moxley, the West Midlands Wildlife trust are relocating
suburbia’, with generous landscaping ‘set backs’, a little
their HQ to Moorcroft Wood (just south of the A41, not far
shop at the south end and a nice playground/rec on
from the ‘tip’ site, opportunity for green links along Canal)
Broadwaters Road.
‘Wards Site’ (permission for 300 houses) is being planned
■
to incorporate a wildlife corridor and to improve the
Interface with the new development on the Woods Bank (Industrial) Estate looked non-existent.
setting of the pond.
■ ■
Playing field complex on Hall Street is huge but badly
10
The proximity of the Black Country Route is felt by some residents.
Youth Centre, Bill Street
Playground, Whitton Street
Station Street, mixed uses side by side
Sikh Temple,
Industrial premises
On site, large residential scheme by MarCity, Bloor Homes, Woden Road West
played in the Bolero Club down the road in Wednesbury!
■
Pinfold Street is a featureless approach route – why the 200 yard dual carriageway?
■
Tragic suicide of a young boy subjected to homophobic bullying is marked by a memorial bench and informal
Area D - Kings Hill ■
■
■
The park was opened in 1904. The mound is the slag
planting.
■
There was a common feeling that Kings Hill Park and its
from an old pit shaft. It used to have more facilities,
surrounding recreational spaces were very hidden not
including a paddling pool. A user survey showed the
only from visitors but also for many of the residents of
facility people most want to keep are the toilets, though
Darlaston. One councillor mentioned it was his first visit
the block is closed (and ugly).
to the park and he had lived in Darlaston for many years.
Friends of Darlaston Park South have a £250k business
■
The gateways, with the exception to the one off
plan using Section 106 from the TIW site, to complement
Darlaston Road, are understated and poorly defined with
money already spent through NRF on the playground.
low quality signage indicating what lies beyond.
Over-mature planting needs radically thinning down to
■
“Bus services are poor to some areas – Kings Hill”.
■
BT Exchange opposite Kings Hill Primary School is
open up views and reduce fear of crime.
■
An idea for opening up views from the top of the mound
vacant along with adjacent Council owned land, potential
to frame the axis between the two historic church
development opportunity.
spires of 17th C St. Lawrence Darlaston and 13th C St. Bartholomew’s Wednesbury is a possibility. A good site for a landmark?
■
■
Development Opportunities on Darlaston Road, such as Servis site, which has planning permission for housing
Rolling Stones and other great bands like the Hollies
11
Factory gates opposite Whitton Street
Vacant BT Exchange, Old Park Road
Vacant site
Asian foodstore, Cobden Street
Scout hut, Victoria Road
Allotments off Victoria Road
Area E - Station Street ■
The area is served by a well functioning school on Station Street and youth facilities in the form of a Youth centre, children’s playground and Multi-Use Games Area along Whitton Street. Darlaston Swimming Pool, Victoria Road
■
The two mosques and one Sikh Temple are well tended and provide the local ethnic communities with communal hubs amongst the industrial/residential setting.
■
The surrounding area is made up of large scale Industrial premises, despite this potential conflict the uses are managing to co-exist. This may need to be clarified by asking those who actually live here how they perceive this relationship?
■
The industrial area around Station Street provides hundreds of local jobs which should be protected
■
Development opportunity around Cook Street/Franchise Street area
12
Half demolished leisure centre, Victoria Road
The Innovation Works @ Rubery Owen, Booth Street
Area F - Victoria Road ■
Former Leisure Building (formerly a Victoria School) is in the process of being demolished, the existing signage pointing to this long vacated building is still present outside the Town Hall. This was noted by several participants during the walkabout and will be dealt with shortly.
■
The allotments opposite the Swimming Pool and adjacent to the former leisure building are still active and tended for. However there appears to be uncollected waste near the road edge and the site is under occupied which detracts from what is a pleasant set of allotments.
■
Darlaston Swimming Pool is a quality piece of public architecture (Hodder Associates, c. 2000), praised and held up by CABE that sits at the northern tip of Victoria Park. However, there is little evidence/acknowledgement of its presence in the town centre. I.e. no signs or posters showing directions or publicising its existence.
■
Vacant, under-utilised land around Heath Road needs a clear planning strategy. MarCity former employment site off Richards Street has had a planning application submitted for housing, which has yet to be determined. There is some support for this change of use in the area.
■
Managed work space on Booth Street is under-utilised. This facility offers 29 flexible office spaces with support facilities. It is linked to the Walsall Social Economy Centre and home of the Walsall Regeneration Housing Agency Partnership led by Accord.
13