Billingshurst Community Partnership Steering Group
(A formally constituted body)

Issue 1 August 2004

Response to the request for outline projects (Regional Partner’s Group – South East Rural Towns Partnership.)

Billingshurst Healthcheck Process – Station and Surroundings Project

Project Title: Blue Sky (The Area and Environment around the Billingshurst Station)

Location: Billingshurst West Sussex

Description:

This project arises as a result of the Healthcheck process. Within this process, and a more detailed community consultation, a number of specific projects have been identified that fall under Action Plan item 6 – Transport, - item 7 Village and Visitors, as well as item 11 which addresses Safety and Security in the Community. It also has a wider dimension in that work proceeding under Action Plan item 10, concerned with the Young, has identified an urgent need to relocate an existing Pre School facility. In addition there is a growing need to address a community requirement for IT training and resources that, it is felt, could usefully combine to give an integrated resource centre. There are other issues that impact on this project such as Tourism, the Economy generally and the Environment. These result in a project that would address the area and environment around the Billingshurst Station.

The key strands of the project are:-

1) Improvements to the station.

2) Refurbishment of the area surrounding the station.

3) The need to improve car parking facilities.

4) Consideration of level crossing safety and traffic flows.

5) Security and the installation of CCTV.

6) Enlargement of the child crèche facilities and creation of an I.T. learning centre.

7) Local information and improvement to rail/bus links.

The envisaged stages of the Project are as follows:

Stage 1 A mail drop outlining the proposed project, and seeking comment from interested parties, to the area around the station (approximately 400 houses). Contact will also be made with all businesses (50 plus) in the area and a number of key organisations seeking their involvement (Rail authorities, Bus Companies, Tesco’s, County – Local and Parish Council’s, and others as the case may be.)

Stage 2 To hold a public meeting (targeted for the 22nd September in the Village Hall. Following this meeting to form a working party, as a sub group of the Community partnership, comprising of interested people to run the project, as well as gaining more public comment.

Stage 3 The development of a Business Plan leading to more formal funding requirements and grant bidding processes.

Stage 4 Project implementation.

In broad terms the project will address:

1) The lengthening of station platforms, improvements to the downside waiting area, maintaining the station in a better state of repair and decoration, plus improving the station toilets and maintaining cleanliness. These are the only public toilets in this part of Billingshurst and need to be available to all. Negotiation with the Rail Authorities to accept the need and budgetary implications.

Additionally the need to assess the getting on/off trains for the disabled, the elderly, and those with young children in pushchairs.

2) There is general untidiness and unattractiveness about the station surroundings. The project will develop a scheme to “humanise” the area and make it more attractive, especially to visitors. This could be achieved by fewer parked cars, some seating, planting and greater safety for pedestrians.

3) Car parking is a complex issue and of concern. Pedestrians have no “protection” if they cross any of the numerous roads around the station, often needing to emerge between parked cars.

To create more parking spaces the following options need to be addressed:-

· Use the strip of road between the factory buildings and the station car park boundary – perhaps 40 parking spaces.

· Use the entrance to the Lower Station Rd., playfield. Perhaps 20 spaces.

· Acquire the Brownfield site in Myrtle Lane – perhaps a further 30 spaces.

Such an approach would lead to a long v short stay debate and perhaps the need to charge, plus the need to monitor to avoid commuter parking taking the cheaper option.

4) The whole area is unsafe for pedestrians. Foot flows are considerable at some times of the day, whilst traffic flows are generally heavy. With road-side parking in Lower Station Rd., near to the level crossing, traffic passage is often difficult, which adds to the problems facing pedestrians.

The level crossing is inadequate for the passage of two-way traffic and two-way walking. The crossing is at an awkward angle to the traffic, especially all the H.G.V.’s from/to the industrial estates, and is too narrow for current activity.

It is proposed we would employ qualified Civil Engineers to provide us with recommendations on how best to overcome the level crossing problems.

5) As well as being a drab area generally the station surroundings are lacking in security. With the nearby local playing field and skateboard park, the presence of the community’s schools and pre school groups, the new Tesco store, plus bus and train services, there are too many dark corners. The project will review the installation of CCTV and proposals to improve Street Lighting.

Additionally there is a need to consider pedestrian safety. Less street parking and pedestrian priority need to be reviewed with a priority walk way to the station and the possibility of a pedestrian crossing.

6) The nearby preschool facility has to relocate due to the current buildings being condemned. There is also a need to combine an education facility to address training of qualified carers. In addition there is a requirement for IT training and resource facility. As the relocation of the preschool facility requires a new building it would be more viable if some added value could be found. Since there is a need for the education of “carers” as well as an identified need for IT training, within the community, both could be accommodated for in the same building thus creating a “resource” centre. This would also add the dimension of “Adult” education in the facility.

7) Billingshurst as a community needs to be more aware of visitor needs and the tourism opportunities that exist. Whilst this is a matter for consideration throughout Billingshurst this project envisages the following to be provisioned for in the Station Area since this is “The Gateway to Billingshurst”:-

· A Publicity brochure.

· An information “office” within the Station area or the Station per se.

· Directional finger boards to other areas.

· A station bus shelter.

· A combined bus/rail timetable.

 

Target Group:

Local Businesses, local Residents of the area, Visitors to Billingshurst, the Disadvantaged in Travel requirements, the Young in particular the Pre School group, Adult learning and Business development and training.

Funding Required: An overall projected cost of some £2m as follows:

1. The Railway part of the project: It is assumed that the railway authority will look to a local contribution estimated as £50000.

2. Addressing the Station Area: Estimated as £50000

3. Parking: Subject to land ownership this would require it is estimated some £500,000.

4. Safety and Level Crossing works: for Civil Engineer report fees and an estimated £10 to £12,000. (Implementation costs can only be identified once the report is completed and negotiations with the Rail Authorities held.)

5. Other Safety issues around the Area: Estimated cost for CCTV £25000 and Street Lighting £25000. Priority walk way and Pedestrian Walk Way £20,000

6. Preschool and IT resource centre: Estimated at £250,000

7. Tourism Office and Associated requirements: Estimated at £150,000

Time Scales:

1. Draft Project work up: Autumn 2004

2. Engaging Interested Parties: Autumn to Spring 2005

3. Detailed Project description Summer 2005

4. Detailed Project Costing Autumn 2005

5. Preschool part Autumn 2005

6. Railway and Safety Winter 2005 to Spring 2006

7. Tourism Summer 2006

SEEDA Economical Outputs:

This project meets C1 New Jobs created and Safeguarded – C2 Brownfield Land recycled – C3 (all sections) Learning opportunities – C4 New Businesses created and sustained – S2 Specialist advice to Business – S4, 5 and 6 Adult Training – S7 Broadband access. Rural Outputs as arising from the Government Rural White Paper with regard to “New and Improved Services and Infrastructure”.