| 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”.
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