Mixed reaction for Cirencester's new Market Place

1:00pm Tuesday 9th October 2012 in News

Cirencester resident Fred Whalley, centre, takes a look at the new Market Place development plans with Andrew Tubb and landscape architect Matthias Schoener Cirencester resident Fred Whalley, centre, takes a look at the new Market Place development plans with Andrew Tubb and landscape architect Matthias Schoener

CURIOUS and concerned Cirencester residents turned out in their droves to inspect radical new plans for a £1million town centre revamp.

At a public exhibition at Bingham Gallery, a mixed reaction was given to the Town Centre Regeneration Scheme, which could get started in just over a year’s time.

As part of the plans, Market Place would be transformed into a flat "shared space" for pedestrians and cars, and the town’s market relocated to a pedestrianised zone by Cirencester Parish Church.

Ian Hartnell, from Cirencester, welcomed improvements but said: "This is the umpteenth time I’ve seen something like this presented and I hope it doesn’t stall again."

The scheme can be viewed and feedback given online at cirencester.gov.uk

Comments(11)

MR DOBBY says...
5:18pm Tue 9 Oct 12

ITS ALL A WASTE OF MONEY THATS WHY ITS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE,
TRY LOOKING AFTER THE PEOPLE THAT MATTER AND PUT SOME MONEY INTO CHESTERTON AND BEECHES PLAYING FIELDS.

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Cotswold Lad says...
3:54pm Wed 10 Oct 12

I don't want to end up in a hospital ward so that they can win a design award!
Hidden in the plan is the removal of all the traffic lights in Market Place and Gosditch Street. No more safe crossing points. With around 15 of Cirencester's adult population suffering with some kind of impairment such as Arthritis, blind or sight impaired, a range of other disablities with learning difficulties added to the mix - they will all find the plan puts them at risk. The Red Cross and Guide Dogs have both posted information for people put at risk by such plans on their websites following the scheme in London..
In short, the Town Council needs to build safety in from the very start not remove safety systems because the designers say they are "ugly".

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Cotswold Lad says...
3:56pm Wed 10 Oct 12

Sorry that should have read "With around 15 percent of Cirencester's adult population"

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Alvin Sepert says...
10:26am Thu 11 Oct 12

Fed Whalley's face says it all!

NO !!!!!!!!!!!

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cirencabbie says...
5:45pm Thu 11 Oct 12

Castle Street one way, no traffic lights, 50% reduction in taxi rank. All with the expectation that residents/visitors will want to loiter in the Market Place and enjoy coffee/meals al fresco. With our weather? Is there room for yet more coffee outlets? Sorry, but I can see the tumbleweed blowing through as I write - I'm thinking desolation a la King Square, Gloucester in the '70s. It ain't broke, so don't fix it - just sort the paving slabs for the older folk.

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walterparkgate says...
3:05pm Fri 12 Oct 12

Why would tourists want to come to Cirencester Market place?
The Cotswold tourist Axis is Burford
Bourton Broadway twenty miles to the north, Northleach has a magnificent church, Stow a famous Fair, Cirenccester has a magnificent Park, a museum hidden down a back street, and a sense of importance far out of sync with reality.
I know fixing broken paving slabs is not exciting but Mr Tubbs it is your job whereas re inventing the wheel is not.
My master plan.
Put the Market down Cricklade Street.
Sell the Christmas Market sheds for firewood.
Redeploy the council workers from dreaming to mending broken paving slabs.
Redeploy the PR team from ramming stupid ideas down our throats to listening to what ordinary people, say remembering ordinary people without a mention in Burks pierage and no town planning qualifications do actually know what they want.
And the town council are very seriously off message.

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esse quam viderie says...
9:00pm Fri 12 Oct 12

Walter, if you are going to pontificate so passionately about what you think Cirencester people want will you please make sure you know what you're talking about?
1 Broken paving slabs are a Gloucestershire Highways responsibility, not Mr Tubbs or the Town Council.
2 Cirencester's market takes place under a Charter which dates back to the Magna Carta and is to be held in - surprise, surprise - the Market Place. in any case I am sure that the ordinary person wants his/her taxes to pay the extra costs of closing Cricklade Street twice a week!
3 I cannot find any mention of a PR team in any Town Council records Walter so this must be a figment of your imagination.
Meanwhile I look forward to seeing your name on the ballot paper for the next election. In that way you will have the mandate to speak for ordinary people.

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Olly Cromwell says...
9:57pm Fri 12 Oct 12

The only PR team associated with Cirencester is the infamous Cotswold Media Ltd whose tacky map still dominates in the Market Place by the bus stop.

Cotswold Media Ltd is run by discredited CDC Leader Cllr Stowe (Eyes passim) and his two Tory chums. The former Tory Mayor ensured the contract went to his mate.

Perhaps Walter or Alvin should clean their own stables before throwing stones.

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Cotswoldlakes.org.uk says...
2:09pm Sat 13 Oct 12

Having worked in Cirencester for 16 years, I feel this scheme is long overdue. The historic heart of our town deserves no less than the use of quality materials and the removal of clutter, to reveal its true beauty.

Moreover, it's high time that we reclaim the Market Place as a public space, and fight back against the tyranny of the motor car.

Philip Nicholas

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acotswoldsresident says...
5:12pm Sat 13 Oct 12

Whatever is done with this space let's hope it is properly maintained, kept clean and designed to encourage visitors who may then spend some money in the local shops.

At the moment the only people making anything from the proposals are the assorted planners. What version of the plans are we on now......

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0aktree says...
9:22pm Sat 13 Oct 12

Oh dear, what a load of old clap trap. Apathy is the word no one seem,s to care.The council Lib Dem or Tory,s know it.The right answer is leave well alone, or let the council tax payer,s decide via a democratic vote ,if they want their hard earned money to be spent, on terms and contracts that have already been agreed !!!!!.

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