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Placecheck Report 2008 The Abbey Quarter

Tower

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - MONKS ROAD- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Stamp End
Spring
2008
Abbey Quarter
Placecheck
A record of what we like and dislike
about our own neighbourhood with
ideas for making it a better place.

1
Abbey Quarter Placecheck 2008 kicked off in April with three Walkbouts, each
starting at the Arboretum Gates and ending with a debriefing session over coffee
Acknowledgements to:
WALKABOUT ►LCDP, for friendly guidance
and continuing support
►Churches in Society, for
a grant to fund this report
►Walmer Street Church Hall for
hosting MRNI Public Meetings
with out which this enterprise
would not have got off to such
a good start
►All those who took part

Helpful publications:
►Streetscape Design Manual
(Lincolnshire County Council)
►Save Our Streets
(English Heritage and the WI)
One group outside the
café ready to set out. All ►CTZ Report (Highways)
three Walkabouts ended
with a de-briefing session Abbey Quarter Placecheck
over coffee is an MRNI enterprise

Thanks to all who came along!


You took over 800 photographs and filled 70+ pages with your
likes, dislikes and (best of all) your ideas for making things better!
2
The first task was to define the area; then to divide it into
manageable chunks. We settled for 12—the Arboretum Monks Road to the Arboretum …….4-7 What the children think…...22—28
Page by page
making up a baker’s dozen. Arboretum & Fosters Field………..…….8
Milman Road to Frederick Street …9-10 Crossing the Witham
Three Walkabouts were arranged:
Hillside Avenue…………………….…….11 Windows and doors
Wednesday 2 April at 6.00pm
Jellicoe to Ellesmere Avenue………....11 We love trees!
Saturday 5 April at 2.00pm Pages
East Liberty/Roman Pavement.....…...12 A Round-up of Railings
Saturday 12 April at 10.30am 29-37
Tower Crescent/Avenue/Drive…...….12 Cycle routes
Over thirty people turned up to take part. Working in twos Friars Lane to Baggeholme Road...….13 Cycle parking
and threes, this was enough to cover the area. John Street to Cromwell Street…..14-16 Old corner shops
The children’s walkabout took place in July Florence Street to Abbey Ruins…...….17 Car parks
Spa Street to Monks Way………………18
Those surveying streets above Monks Road would take in Baggeholme Rd to Lytton Street….19-20 Recommendations………...38-40
the north side of Monks Road, those surveying streets below Napier Street to Percy Street……….….21
would take in the south side. Similarly with Winn Street.

3
Monks Road—Gateway to the Abbey Quarter
Entry impeded by traffic—45,000 vehicles an hour streaming down the most polluted
corridor in the city. Why is so little being done to reduce one-in-a-car travel?

Likes
Small shops, handy,

quaint, cheery,
exotic ...a pity so many
lie empty
Young people—
students, and families
walking children to
and from school
Familiar friendly faces A welcome splash
of colour
First impressions on entering Monks Road on foot are not good.
What would make it better?
X Dislikes
The mix of voices,
languages, dress ... It’s a stone's throw from
►A clamp-down on pavement parking
from the Cultural Quarter,
►Footpath improvements


Unattractive pavements
& within walking distance
Confusing lights on the new Pelican crossing near the junction ►A 20 mph speed limit
of most other amenities
Crossing Monks Road—hazardous ►Take steps to reduce traffic NOW—
Improved timing on the It’s a bad junction for cyclists without waiting for the Eastern Bypass
pedestrian lights at Too much traffic, too much traffic, too much traffic… (although rocketing fuel prices may do
bottom of Lindum Hill the trick more quickly!)
makes walking to the city Turning into Monks Road on the ►A one-way system for vehicles, with a
centre less frustrating lower side, a pedestrian comes contraflow allowing for 2-way cycling
The one-way system now face to face with the end of a
Providing adequately for cyclists could
operating on Clasketgate crumbling concrete wall juxta-
Trees at intervals help reduce pavement cycling.
also means it’s a more posed with a gilt- knobbed
along the way handrail and a rusty bit of black
pleasant walk into town AIR QUALITY Under the 1995 Environment
and white metal…
Increasingly home to professional people, the Welcome to our neighbourhood!
Act Lincoln City is required to review and assess
Abbey Quarter no longer deserves its label as a air quality. Two of the monitoring locations are
‘poor’ area. It’s time our council appreciated in our area—one at the junction of Monks Road
… then, really dull conversion from shop to and Rosemary Lane, the other at the Abbey
this place with its Abbey, the Arboretum, the
accommodation. Now a dead corner, its Medical Pratice.
Witham—all within a 10-minute walk from the
only function seems to be as a backdrop to
City Centre. What with that and the National Graphs show a downward trend in average levets
street signs.
Cycle Route running through its midst, who of nitrogen dioxide at both locations, and that
needs a car? This does not warm the heart. since 2005 the air quality objective has been met.

4
Monks Road—traffic and the pedestrian
This is the approach to our glorious
Arboretum from the city centre

When is a Pedestrian Zone Watch your step!


not a Pedestrian Zone? Trip hazards on the Pedestrian
The newly splayed, nicely bricked Zone—dislodged bricks.
area was fine, at first. Pedestrians Quality paving the length of
assumed priority; motorists obliged. Monks Road would be welcome
on a street so heavy with foot
Then white dotted lines appeared.
traffic—preferably with cause-
Right away, road rules prevailed. ways at side-streets, à la Port-
Now a vehicle-dominant space, this land Street, off the High Street.
zone is less pedestrian-friendly than The crossing near the junction is
it was in the first place! puzzling—green one side, red
Even if the lines wear off it’s unlikely the other! To a waiting pedes-
that motorists’ habits will turn round trian it looks as if cars are jump-
ing the lights. Either that or
to favour the pedestrian.
the Green Man’s on strike.

As long as a motorist leaves a 39-inch gap (we’re


What would make it better? ►Some cities have already adopted a

20’s plenty
told by a Traffic Warden) a warden is powerless 20 mph speed limit in residential areas.
►Turn the road hierarchy on its head. Consider
to move it on. So it’s okay for a van to hog a ►Portsmouth has gone further, with a
the needs of pedestrians first, cyclists second,
busy pavement and to straddle double yellow
bus passengers third and the private motorist 20 mph limit right across the town.
lines? And what about damage caused to
fourth—as they do in York, for instance. ►In the interests of safety, especially for
kerbs, drains, and other services underground?

!
►The promised ban on HGVs will help our children, other cities are gearing up
Each year in the UK over 80 pedestrians ►So would a 20 mph speed limit to follow suit. Is Lincoln up for this?
are killed by cars mounting pavements.

5
Monks Road—Lincoln College

x The first photo was taken as part of


our first Placecheck in 2002. Then,
the college was looking in a sorry
state—but improving. The car park
had just been landscaped, with
lawns, seats, steps, shrubs and trees.
“Dingy surroundings turn folk sour.”

Yet, despite an ample number of

x
new bins, an appalling amount of
litter was strewn about.
Since then, the old 60s building has
undergone a face lift, a real boost
to those who walk past every day. Just across the road: a terrace much
Amazingly, even litter seems to improved since the last Placecheck but
Lincoln College have been brought under control! still wanting. It’s a pity the Boundary Wall
Project planned for the south side, which
Before and After
proved so popular on the north side, will

?
not now include these properties.



The old Tradex building opposite, cause of
many a traffic jam along Monks Road, has
been taken over by the college, and the
Most railings have a purpose.
This one, however, appears to
have no purpose at all—except
perhaps to serve as an example
of unnecessary street furniture This beautifully restored building just
warehouse-type building renovated. a few doors along shows what fine
for those whose mission it is to de
►A few trees and plants would help soften houses we have in our midst.
-clutter our streets?
the stark newness of the railings.

6
Lincoln College to the Arboretum

√ Likes X Disikes What would make it better?


Proximity to the Arboretum Litter in gutters—mechanical sweeper can’t ►Revert to a road sweeper with broom and shovel
Trees at top of road get at it because of parked cars ►Promote Stop the Drop, the 2008 anti-litter campaign
Wooden bay windows ►Pick up other people’s litter to pop in the nearest bin
In the cul de sac: a full skip
Decorative brickwork ►Promote the council’s free collection service
and dumped rubbish—a fine
Cast iron railings ►Encourage use of Free Cycle to dispose of unwanted
approach to our lovely park,
White street lighting furniture
Green Flag winner and a
Improved corner shop
Good Place to have a Picnic!

►Improve hand rails at top of steep streets


With Residents Parking Schemes, cars rarely park on
pavements. Vine Street is an exception …
►Plant shrubs on patches of waste ground
Cars on pavements— ►Create a side entrance worthy of our Arboretum
Houses with a superb view despite double yellow
of the Arboretum—one by lines and a Parking Who owns these paths?
one being restored after Scheme in place!
Who’s responsible for
years of neglect, in turn their upkeep?
promising to present an
attractive aspect when What can be done when
viewed from the park Backs of houses the forecourt wall of an
on Monks Road: a empty house collapses

?
Architectural curiosities abound... grim outlook from into a busy pavement?
the cul de sac
Why the Lincoln City Crest over

?
tucked behind
the doorway of every house in A self-seeded
Cheviot Street? ash bursting
Why the recess above the through bricks
window on this gable? An unwanted
settee upturned
Green urban space at the tops of in a forecourt (yet

!
streets offering a refreshing uphill the council runs a
view of trees from each of the free collection
lower streets. service!)
Pity about the bog-standard
retaining brick walls!

7
The Arboretum & Fosters Field—a green haven on our doorstep

√ Likes The bandstand


The lamp posts
Magnolia tree
X Dis;likes ? What would
make it better?
The Lion
Space to play
The little lions Dog pooh when people
on the steps don’t clean it up
►A little bit of the maze
The flowers A is damaged—needs
Damage to maze in the repairing
The café was open.
We had ice cream
The squirrels
treasured middle
► Make better
and it was lovely.
green It feels like you are in the
country—until you hear
drainage on the
middle walkway—it
space the speeding cars and
bumpy lorries going past
can be very slippy
and dangerous
Traffic may disturb the ►Fine people who
Fencing and brickwork round the park animals! drop litter and let their
Maps & information boards
Don’t like the hut—it’s dogs foul the grass.
We worked very hard
Ducks Blossom on trees got gates on and ugly ►Use the security
and we all worked
The maze Lots of seats yellow signs saying cameras
together.
The fountains Birds singing “Anti-climb paint” ► More bins in the
The play area Bluebells Someone has picked summer and at busy
The wooden Wild flowers some daffodils and put times
them by a tree. ► 20mph speed limit
I like the wooden tree seat best!
I often see workmen in
the park. They work
very hard.
Coronation Garden Fosters Field The field was gift to the
City for community use.
However, the lower part
The bank above
With play areas set up was fenced off for the
the terrace is a
at the Abbey Ruins school—on condition it
nature reserve.
and in the Coronation could be used by other
Grass is mown only
Garden, swings and local groups during out-
after wild flowers
climbing frames were of-school hours.
have seeded. Like
removed Fosters Field,
the meadow by No one begrudged the
leaving empty green
the school, the

?
children the green space,
space, featureless and ► A play-place
ragged softness but why was the condition
under-used (except by for older kids
balances the neat never met? Has it been
dog walkers) and with —stunt bikes,
formality of lawns forgotten? (The matter is
a rough stony path. maybe?
and flower beds. being looked into.)

8
Milman Road to Frederick Street

√ Likes
X Dislikes This splash of
paint has been
here so long the
Amazing perspectives Too many parked cars on lid is embedded
Nice houses Milman Road in the tarmac.
Milman Road is a link in
Lovely views across the Arboretum from A plethora of satellite Sustrans’ National Cycle
Milman Road and across the Abbey Ruins dishes on some streets Once a corner Network.
from Bernard Street and Fairfield Street
Potentially lovely little front shop, now blank Cycle Route 1 runs from
and faceless—as
gardens left in a state of Edinburgh down the east
with many such
neglect side of Britain. It crosses
conversions.
Lincoln from Nettleham
Road to Stamp End.
This section, from Hull to
Harwich, is a favourite of
cyclists from the Low
Countries.
►Cycle signs pointing to
Streets with TO LET signs are The NO CYCLING sign implies the
Architectural features/windows/doorways the delightful Arboretum
markedly shabbier than those nearby path is a useful cycle link.
Café (with its sturdy cycle
Cast iron railings whose patterns differ from displaying FOR SALE signs. ►Upgrade for shared use? stands) seem appropriate.
street to street, from house to house
Decorative brickwork
Charming lay-out of gardens, top of Clarina What would make it better?
Street and Bernard Street
►Advice and incentives to encourage the upkeep
An old cart on a rooftop of small front gardens
—a curious and quaint (if
accidental) landmark
►Allow parking on one side of Milman Road only “The streets belong to
►Upgrade the Pelican Crossing at the bottom of us. Let’s make them
Fairfield Street to a Toucan Crossing for cyclists using something to be proud
Empty hospital, at top of the signed route from Tower to the City Centre
Milman Road—waste of of.”
lovely building ►Residents’ Parking Save our Streets
►Could usefully be turned The Green Man took six seconds to appear
into flats, perhaps? when timed by Placecheckers on Walkabout

9
The cycle/footpath (Milman Road to Frederick Street)
√ Likes X Dislikes What would make it better?
Views of Canwick & green spaces
Litter & dog mess ►A bench between top of
Wide space at top of Fairfield Street Frederick Street and Laceby
Cigarette butts
where a bomb fell Street
dropped by smokers
The quietness— ►A tidy-up of the whole area
you wouldn’t think Two cycle signs on the
same signpost: ►A proper gate into the
you were in a city
hospital grounds
Wild flowers End of Cycle Route
To City Centre ►A fag-butt bin
The trees arching
over the road at A little confusing?
Fairfield Street

!
►Better lighting along the narrow passageway
The last English Elms in Lincoln ►Widen the passageway so cyclists can ride through

Thanks to a campaign run by householders nearby, ►Litter bins along the footpath—at the top of each street,
this passageway was given a neat tarmac surface a
few years ago. Later, the Community Travel Zone
upgraded the stretch from Fairfield Street to Hillside to
become a cycleway with back gardens on one side,
hospital grounds on the other, a traffic-free route link- ►Street signs at the tops of
ing the Tower Estate to the town centre. streets as well as the bottom,
so that walkers and cyclist on

!
the path know where they are
Thriving on rough
ground (amid litter): ►Grit bins too would be more
√ Violets useful at the tops of the streets
This plot of ground next to than at the bottom
√ Periwinkle
the passageway is For Sale.
√ Forget-me-nots
√ Yellow Archangel The proposed plan is not in
and the promise of keeping with its surroundings.
butterflies to come! The passageway will be over-
shadowed and a patch of
urban wilderness lost.

?
► Why not allotments? Coveted grit box at bottom of street!
They’re in demand now
As part of the Viking Way this
more than ever—with
pathway deserves care and
a waiting list.
attention

10
Hillside Avenue Jellicoe Avenue to Ellesmere Avenue
Hillside Approach

√ Likes
√ Likes X Dislikes
“When a roadside or other
public area becomes visibly
degraded, by law it must be
Views cleaned up within 60 hours at
Jellicoe Avenue
Free of litter the most. In practice, many
Gardens well kept areas are not cleaned up
Houses fairly well kept
Properties maintained within 60 months.”
A feeling of community
Litter bins well used (Stop the Drop)
spirit amongst residents
What does the law say
Sherbrooke Street when garden rubbish de-
Rubbish in front gardens grades the street?
Clean, tidy properties
No litter The issue of footpaths and
verges was dealt with at
Bathurst Street June’s Public Meeting.

Clean, free of litter We were assured that kerbs


Footpaths fine will be tidied up and trees
Clean homes, well cared for pruned.
Dog bins emptied regularly Every garden immaculate
New lighting Wonderful!

?
Collapsed wall at bottom corner of
Feel safe at night Sherbrooke Street
Ellesmere Avenue

X Dislikes
The last time pavements
Being a through-road from Tower Estate, it’s were “tidied up” black
plagued by: Broken kerbs plastic was put down to
speeding cars protect drain covers but
off-road bikes NEVER REMOVED—just left
yobs pushing walls down to rot! How tidy is that?
Well-kept Victorian houses
What would make it better? Many people observed
► More police patrols
► Re-lay paved footpaths
► A Neighbourhood Office
how quickly a sense of
well-being can change,
just turning from one
?
► Youth facilities street into the next. Private road in front of Ellesmere Avenue ►Could the council adopt?
This would have a good knock-on effect

11
East Liberty, Roman Pavement Tower Crescent to Tower Drive

√ Likes X Dislikes √ Likes X Dislikes


Unkempt gardens
Hardly ever see Urban Ranger

Flowers in the gardens


Trees Play area for children Big mound of grass in park makes it
The little green Ball Court hard to play ball games
The paths
Cars parked on pavements and
grass verges
Board up windows—seven
on this patch!
Phone box often smashed
Street signs need replacing
Bus signs missing New bins
Litter on roadside Nice greenery
Trees Dingy walls
What would
?
Cars on pavements— Well kept front gardens Neglected street signs
people can’t get past!
make it better?
? What would
Bus signs missing

► Close the park at night


make it better?
► Add some lights
► Street cleaners ►More Urban Rangers
Roman Pavement ►Drop-in centre for young people
In 1880, during ironstone quarrying, ►Flatten the grass so we can play
Roman mosaics came to light and Grievances about cars parked on verges ►Lock the park at night
a villa, with a pavilion 87 metres and footpaths cropped up in all quarters. ►Lighting at night
►New street signs
long, was unearthed. The find was
recorded by the quarry manager, Findings from the current Community ►New gates
who took the trouble draw a plan Travel Zone questionnaires confirm that ►A place for people to meet—
of the villa. pavement parking is a city-wide aversion. there’s only a house and shop.

12
Waterside North & Friars Lane to Baggeholme Road

√ Likes X Dislikes √ Likes


YMCA: nice to have a gym on our
X Dislikes
Unrepaired road—deadly to cyclists Battered signage
The newly painted fbridge doorstep
What could be recreational riverside Very short bike lane—use?
space given over to parked cars! Croft Street Centre—good for the Broken toilet on graveyard
occasional cultural event, without Dog dirt on the graveyard
having to battle across Broadgate (despite dog bins)
traffic Stuff left by drinkers on steps of
Baptist Church

St Hughs
Street—
very quiet
Brook Street—a forgotten, quiet cul de sac
New flats behind the
Dismal wall at closed end and
old Wesleyan School
an equally dismal view from the
other—a car park! Rosemary Lane
Graveyard with its
smart new bins—but
Applause to those who why do people still
prettify the outside of their litter the grass? NCP Car Park—an eyesore
homes with plants for others
to see, but who themselves
have to suffer a dreary view
of parked cars.
Corner : Presumably
Waterside North this patch of
Baggeholme Road ground is
owned by the
Environment
Placecheck 2002
asked “Why are we
Agency? What would make it better?
kept out of this
What would green space?”
►Put dog bins on every street
►A shelter for wheelie bins for elderly

?
make it better? Hitherto it had been
open to the road,
council tenants
►If we must have car parks, please let’s
with seats, like a design them with human beings in mind!
►Make better use of riverside miniature park. ►Do something with Kerr Pattern Co.
►Repair potholes & footpaths

?
►Create new footpaths where The question What’s happening to the barricaded
there are none still applies. wasteland by the Friar’s Lane car park?

13
General Comments
John Street to Cromwell Street John Street and Thomas Street
John Street Good view across valley Thomas Street
Attractive oriel window
Modern terraces in
keeping—no clash
Colour-wash on terrace Modern & original housing
houses—good continuity sit well together

Likes
Where so many wires fan out from one Residents Parking Pleasant garden area
pole (normally leaning) you get the Residents Parking
impression of archaic industrial
revolution stuff left to rot Trees & front gardens

These should be renewed or updated Nice views from both ends


with a more sympathetic pole support. Dog and Bone Car park with Steam Hammer smartly
tickety-boo! trees and shrubs
Lovely sign! painted, attractive sign
Every house on the west against wall
side of each street
sports a satellite dish— Gable-end view of flats at bottom of street
Dislikes
Corner plots at
upsetting to the eye
Untidy backs of businesses on Monks Road top end dominated
and spoiling a view of
by garages
the of houses Outbuilding could use a lick of paint
Steam Hammer
Why not a communal Some houses need colour-wash freshened up
car park on Winn
aerial, as in blocks of Car park not as good as that on Thomas Street Street—a tarmac
flats, where the council
X

More a lane than a street—but parking? wasteland!


pays initially then each
householder pays a
share of the cost? ►Take some tips from Thomas Street Car Park: ► When back in use, let’s hope the Steam Hammer
On some of these streets several house- think plants! retains its sign and uses the car park area to enhance
holds share one passage. This causes the attractive building
rubbish problems. Rather than trail bins
What would

on the long journey back, people


leave them on their frontages or at the
roadside. Sporadically, black rubbish
bags pile up
Wheelie bins have made this place into
a rubbish site!
► Bin men used to fetch the bins from
the back and then return them. ►More litterbins on all roads
Perhaps this should be reinstated? ►New road surface

14
Avondale Street Claremont Street Eastbourne Street

√ Likes
Wide street
√ Likes √ Likes
The Arboretum close by—
View of bandstand—cool greenery, wildlife, space...
View of Arboretum
Corner shop in use All Saints Church—great
Attractive hedging on NE corner
Nice rows of Victorian terraces landmark; needs protecting
3-storey flats suit the scale of the street.
with arches to their front entrances Lovely tree in blossom

X X Dislikes
in a back garden

Dislikes Church: little belfry tower and


stone arched entrance
View of Shuttleworth House—ugh! Charming runs of Edwardian/
Victorian terraces
Dour wooden fencing on NW property
Oriel windows on modern block
Dustbins outside flats look a disaster Street goes across to Cannon Street
View of Cannon Street flats and
Two modern square bays out of kilter flats, different character and not a Lombardy poplars
good view from top half

X
Disused corner shop
Window boarded— Dislikes
? What would make it better?
►Paint Shuttleworth House—make it look cared for
appears to be
temporary Street lamp in front of church west end is ugly, not in
keeping with the imposing building nor is the green
►Railing replacement What would make it better? cable box in front of the excellent stone arched en-
trance.
programme?
►Re-name the part south of Winn Boundary walls have been replaced with all sorts of
►Dustbiin service area Street to give it its own character things over the years, ranch fencing and breeze
within flat complex
►More police patrols and efforts block come to mind! This street is a particular culprit.
►Rates exemption for
to catch culprits

?
anyone using as shop
What would make it better?
“The importance of
public parks cannot ►Get street light changed—PLEASE
be measured. Parks
►Re-site the green cable box—VANDALS!
are essential to a
city’s happiness.” ►Flats would be a better view if given pitched roofs
Great Parks Conference 2001 so that they blend with the area’s architecture

In the heart of the city and within easy reach of our terraced streets: space to relax, greenery to cherish.

15
Cromwell Street Monks Road continued ...

√ Likes
The 3-storey terraces look good,
√ Likes
A mixture of shops, all of long
X Dislikes

This main thoroughfare cuts our community


even though they front right on to standing, some stone properties
in half—with no consideration from motorists
the street despite bay windows among them
passing through. More insulting because of
on ground floors
Some of the best houses: arched architecturally good houses.
View of the Arboretum window panes and doorways, Ruined by wheelie-bins and poor flats and
handsome bay windows on poor building maintenance
To the south, a view of terrace
second floor—real gems!
houses of the same era—better This is what motorists notice on their way
than a view of the flats Pity about the array of wheelie- through. No wonder they think we are
bins lined up and jostling for ‘rough’. Judge a book by its cover.

X
space on the tiny forecourts
Dislikes They must have a phenomenal
Some lack of continuity of style to shop
fronts. One stone property whitewashed.
The light leaded glass view of th Arboretum

? What would make it better?


window (presumably
The curve of the road: a welcome break in this very
above the altar)
long thoroughfare
is filthy from pollution
The charming hedged footpath with stone pillars
Rendering on house
alongside the Arboretum ►Railing replacement—already
fronts does not work
here as it does in All Saints Church—excellent building, not valued planned—will help
John street where ►More control on landlord/multiple
The Arboretum Lodge, its community facilities—and
there was continuity occupancy house AS IN SCOTLAND
All Saints Church on the corner especially the café
of approach
►In front of Arboretum and the school—
block pave the road with yellow bricks so
drivers understand that this is a CHILD BUSY
What would make it better? AREA
►Planning control in future
► More street lights ►Plastic guttering could be painted black

?
►More green stuff in side streets
► More litter bins ►Modern street furniture re-sited
► New road surface ►Monks Road calmed, to give it its
► Wheelie-bins out of sight frontage back
► Better, more attractive footpaths
► Keep the cars off our pavements

16
! Florence Street to the Abbey Ruins

√ Likes XDislikes √ Likes X Dislikes


Abbey ruins It’s for basketball only
Green space The fence round the ruins
The park for kids Lack of a ladies’ toilet
Basketball court Dogs and dog mess
Bowling green Can’t lock bike to bike stand
The Time Line

New bus stops


Simple terrace streets
Warm red brick
The Abbey Play Area nearby
New bus stops
It’s within easy
walking distance
for lots of people
Smart new bins,
?
View of greenery at top and seats, cycle
bottom of almost every street stands and gates Placecheckers were alarmed to find
bits of blue fencing had come adrift.
Cars parked on NOT vandalism, as it turned out. The
pavements fencing had merely suffered the sort of
battering one would expect on a Ball
Court—the wham of a football.

!
Pavement parking Verdict: fencing unfit for purpose
turns what should be Royal Blue for the fencing
open and friendly round the Ball Court was
walking space into a the colour democratically
closed, murky kind voted for by local school
Elegant row of houses looking of alleyway. children.
across the Abbey ruins

A Residents’ Parking Scheme ► Perhaps those who


operates on all side-streets to already benefit from What would make it better?
Claremont Street. Residents Parking could
do a better job of selling ►Either put a permanent fence round the
The bulk of residents in that
the idea to the sceptics? ruins, or not at all. It’s lasted this long—is a
block voted for the scheme.
fence really needed?
Those in subsequent blocks ►Better toilets—one for ladies too, please!
► Tackle pavement
voted against—despite huge ►A tennis court ►A putting green
parking, an increasingly
advantages. ►A ban on dogs
serious issue—and illegal! Despite this notice,
dogs often run round
There was talk of making this park a
How can we expect improvements to our pavements when they’re the play area.
dog-free zone. Then dog bins were
routinely being broken up by vehicles encroaching on them? installed...

17
Spa Street to Dorset Street Devon Street to Monks Way

√ Likes X Dislikes √ Likes X Dislikes


Plenty of dog bins at bottom Houses, bungalows, gates Shame about the view downhill
of Spa Street
Trees/nice gardens Shabby houses on Monks Road
Most houses in character
New bus stop Corner cake shop tatty
with each other
Modern street lighting Wouldn’t like to live next to the
railway when cargo goes past—
Lots of dog bins
very smelly!
Handy cut-through

Ugly spiky fencing & pylons


Tatty sign/paintwork (Ace) What would make it better?
Full bin! Plastic bags in trees!
Graffiti on service boxes ►Improvement to pathways
Lots of sky dishes ►Cheap and frequent public transport so fewer
Bad pavements on alleys people would need to use cars
►Double yellow line on Monks Road so that cyclists
Walmer Street Church— What would make it better? can use the road more safely
architecture and windows ►At 2.5 metres wide, Monks Way is wide enough to
be upgraded for shared cycle/pedestrian use
Street signs, especially
those high on house walls ►Incentives for
home owners and
Nicely kept houses
shopkeepers to
Tree Preservation Order?
Nice gables The line of Lombardy Poplars was singled
make their fronts
out in our previous 2002 Placecheck as
Trees along edge more pleasing
worthy of a Preservation Order. Enquiry

?
►More greenery to
Modern street lighting revealed that an order was not needed,
screen the pylons
since, at that time, the trees were not un-
Large old house at bottom ►Take the old bus
der threat.
stop down!
Now, however, with development on the
►20mph speed limit on M onks Road cards, the trees are at risk. As a result of
20’s Plenty is a national campaign this Placecheck, a TPO is now being
sought.
for a 20mph limit on all residential
roads as default. A case would then Lombardy Poplars in themselves may not
These Poplars screen
have to be made for raising the limit, be deserving of a TPO, but the amenity
monumental eyesores value afforded to so many terrace streets
not the other way round, as now.

18
Cannon Street Shuttleworth House Lytton Street Stamp End

√ Likes X Dislikes
?
What would
Trees down centre
of walkway
Trees missing (Cannon Street) make it better?
Eau de nil (SH) out of keeping—dated
Shuttleworth House— Desolate terrace
views must be Car park bleak ►Replace missing trees (cannon Street)
tremendous! Bins on view ►Paint Shuttleworth House the same
colour as as Cannon Street flats—
Glass fronted
limestone colour gives continuity with
balconies, so you
the skyscape
can see out when
►Build purpose-built shelter for bins
seated in summer
►Split tower block into public/private
Shuttleworth House dominates housing and private businesses—this
The two tower blocks, staggered to
the area—but for how long? could provide for proper reception, a
break the line
If demolished, would updated site concièrge and maintenace,
Convenient for walking into the city
versions take its place? ►Café businesses ►Leisure activities
River frontage
In Glasgow, such towers have ►Green up ►Low growing protective
been updated. Additions of shrubs—prickly?
roofs that hide service machin-
ery, large glass-fronted porches,
attractive railings, and on-site
concierges have made a huge
difference.

Clayton and Shuttleworth looks under


attack—though an excellent frontage
The river at Stamp End
Wildlife, the lock the weir, the
boats passing through ... Compacted
tree roots

Most towns have developed


their river fronts—Sleaford, for
example. Sadly, the impression
here is of a ‘sink hole’. Corridors offering interesting views
? We hope Planning will consider this
area sensitively when looking at
the proposed development

19
Coningsby Street to Napier/Lytton Street

√ Likes
Flats at far end of Coningsby Street have Rubbish
X Dislikes What would
make it better? ?
attractive trees with footpath entrance ►Look after the trees
Dog dirt
Attractive view of Environment Agency Building ►Improve approach to
Youngsters drinking and Environment Agency—
Convenience Store & Chippy—nice to see & use swearing makes the
not good first impression
place feel bad
as it stands
►Paint the bins
Shuttleworth House ►Put in another seat
looks dirty close up ►Create flower beds
Walls in need of fresh ►Put dog bins on every
paint street
►Repaint the sign
►Remove graffiti...
Trailer in lay-by—
seems to be there
permanently!
...or channel the talents of young

?
View right up the hill to Lindum Green
graffiti artists into brightening up
Broken walls dreary corners —under the wing of a
View of trees down
Cannon Street helps Graffiti real artist, perhaps? It’s been done
open out this ‘no-man’s- successfully elsewhere, and dreary
Lack of interesting
land’ corner
features to inspire corners are not hard to find.
the soul! As one schoolchild taking part
in our last Placecheck wrote:
“If people were allowed to do
Dumped bags of rubbish at it they’d stop wanting to.”
New windows on flats look street corner
good
Trim gardens Lincoln Civic Society supports
Dismal entrance to Coningsby Street. This is the idea of decorating utility
Lower BaggholmeRoad the entrance to the Environment Agency— service boxes as a way of
neat & tidy almost their driveway! brightening up the street scene
Back of Community Centre and old
Vicarage uninspiring

20
Napier Street to Spa Road

√ Likes X Dislikes
?
What would
Bentinck Square Bentinck Square
make it better?
Nicely proportioned cul de Rather untidy—
sac—more like three sides Yet such potential!
►Pavement trees and somke architectural
Bentinck Street
of a square feature would make Bentinck Square a real treat
Garaging wall and
Privet hedge a real plus ►Planting on the waste ground—Boston ivy
waste ground—dismal
Napier Street grown up the back wall of the garages
Napier Street
►The gateway aspect of Napier Street—down to the
Open aspect from Winn Open aspect ruined by
river—should be emphasised, with trees on the
Street down to riverbank “bomb-site” area be-
corner. There is space!
River at the end Lytton Street ►Pitched roofs on the flats
Parking area with recycle ►Redesign the “bomb-site” as a play area?
Lytton Street bins HORRENDOUS! Like a ►Green space?
Trees at corner of Shuttleworth house cleared bomb site. No cars ►Parking bays with low hedges and trees?
Trees on the river edge parked! (Wouldn’t want to ►Fenced ball-gane space?
be there after sunset.) ►Formal low-walled garden as a gathering place?
►Fountain?
Shuttleworth House ►Give space an identity so people want to go there
Bins in garden space
Terrace not used Shuttleworth House
Paintwork on walls patchy ►Café to connect up?
Railway bridge—tatty ►Bring terrace into use with a riverside café?
No pavement river side of road ►Plant trees in grassy corners
►Enclose bins
►Paint outside walls
►Sell some of the floors to busnesses so stronger
voice may keep it in good nick
Spa Road
►Road bridge needs maintenance—entry to
countryside and cycle-/footpath
►Put a tree preservation order on the row of
Lombardy Poplars

! ?
Shuttleworth House To reach the Sustrans path you must cross back over the NATIVE BLACK POPLARS ON SITE
Terrace on first floor road then back again over the hump-backed bridge: blind OF OLD POWER STATION?
View of the cathedral and without a footpath. Should be looked at
and accurately identified.

21
Children’s Walkabout Jack Parkes
Laura Lynch
Darryl Smalley
Cllum Brookes
Casey Cox
Emily Bannister
Oskar Kosmider
Diana Plikaityte
Nicole Pickard
Liam Mumby
Nigel Tubb-Johnson
Samantha Thompson
Acacia Bowler
Tara Jones
Alana Johnson
Piotr W
Jake Booth
Katie Ashcroft
Naomi Reeve
Connor Gore
Patrycja Bil
Pauline Borkoweska
Chloe Foley
Ellis Wilders
Hayley-Beth Hodson
Harvey Davis
Nathan Bentley
Amy Taylor
Ashlei Beale
Devi Caampued
Kornelijus Majeika
LCDP worked with Monks Abbey Primary School to carry A Year 5 class was divided into 5 groups.
Sophie Barker
out a community walkabout to find out what the children These groups walked the area together
thought about the place where they live. with their teachers, student teachers and Thanks, kids! Also
thanks to the teachers,
The children were asked to walk about a designated area, LCDP staff.
students & LCDP staff
to observe what was there, write this down and take photo- The children’s own observations, along with who came along and
graphs of what they see. photographs taken by them on disposable made it all happen.
cameras, are included in this report.

22
Lincoln College to the Arboretum—report & pictures by Year 5 children

X
X Dislikes
Rusty metal
X Smells
X Narrow pavements
X Smashed windows
X Posts
X Electric wires
X Graffiti—writing on benches
X Chewing gum on the street
X Too many wheelie-bins outside houses
X Litter on streets and pavements
X Stains on the walls
X Cigarette stubs on the floor

√ Likes
√ Patterns on the doors ?
What would
make it better?
√ Vet’s building
√ Views, trees and baskets of flowers
√ Art on car park wall ►Different coloured
√ The gate of the Jolly Brewer lamp posts in
different streets
√ The smell of fish and chips
►More bins
√ Patterned railings
►Change rusty posts on
√ Recycling bins the steep hill
√ Design of smoke shelter ►Paint the benches
√ The lavender house on MonksRoad ►More rubbish bins
√ View of the Cathedral ►Don’t litter
√ CCTV cameras ►Fine people £200,000
√ View of the top of the Arboretum for littering
√ Railings on front of the houses
√ Lovely lamp posts

23
Milman Road to Frederick Street—report and pictures by Year 5 children

√ Likes X Dislikes

√ Lovely houses
√ Flowers
√ Railings
√ Not busy in the
afternoon X Litter on street and in gardens
√ Silent road √ Nice views X Scrappy window frames
√ Well painted houses X Overgrown bushes
√ Nice railings
X Dog pooh—flies
√ Lovely bricks and walls
X Old shop—not nice view
√ Good footpath

?
What would
make it better?
►Pick up litter
►Cut overgrown bushes
►Clean gardens

24
Hillside Avenue & Tower Estate The Arboretum
Hillside Avenue Tower Estate

by Year 5 children
report & pictures
√ Likes
√ Likes Jellicoe Avenue
√ People are friendly
in the streets
√ Trees - somewhere
for the birds to live
√ Big gardens Bathurst Street
√ Open, clean, wide
√ Driveways & garages
√ Good views
√ Bigger wheelie bins
√ Pretty shrubs and flowers X Dislikes
Jellicoe Avenue
X Narrow road
X Lots of cars parked √ Likes X Dislikes
X Trees a mess
√ Nice place—lovely grass X People drinking
X Messy gardens √ Open to everyone—good for picnics X Broken glass
Bathurst Street √ Big—it doesn’t get too crowded X No swings
X Bins X Smells √ The lion statue X Graffiti
X Blocked pavements √ Good for a kick-about
Tower Crescent X Rubbish in the ponds
√ Good for sun bathing could hurt the fish
Roman Pavement √ Nature—squirrels, birds, fish,

X
X Drug dealers
Dislikes
East Liberty
X Very steep pathways X Vandalism
ducks, swans
X Littering
√ Lovely to walk in
X Very difficult for wheelchairs X No ball games √ Events and things that happen here X Funny people who
X Boarded up houses might kidnap you

?
What would Hillside Bathurst Street
►Graffiti off the bandstand

?
► Paths need improving ►Put bins in back
make it better? Jellicoe Avenue gardens or designate What would ►The upper bandstand painted
►More kids’ stuff ►Toilets open
a bin area
►Make people’s gardens better
►Sweep the rubbish up make it better? ►Provide a ‘drinking’ area
►Ban drinking in the Arboretum
►An ice cream shop/van open

25
John Street to Tempest Street Baggeholme Road to Stamp End

√ Likes X Dislikes √ Likes X Dislikes


X Rubbish
√ The trees X Rubbish in the river
X Boarded up houses √ View X Broken signs on
X Boxes √ Tidy car park and Fenton Place
X Dead bird garage on Fenton Place X Noisy dogs
X The electric house on √ Notice Boards
Thomas Street

?
X Graffiti on Thomas Street
X Graffiti on Winn Street What would
√ Different coloured houses
√ Thomas Street is quiet and tidy X Social club make it better?
√ Pretty houses X Rendering
√ View of the Arboretum X Horrible caravan √ New bollards ►Clean up
√ Recycling bins X Mucky windows ►Do something to the car park
√ Shop fronts on Monks Road X Dusty net curtains on Cannon Street

report and pictures


by Year 5 children
?
What would
make it better?
►Open the pub and paint it ►Tidy the gardens on Avondale Street

26
Spa Street to Monks Way—report and pictures by Year 5 children

√ Likes X Dislikes
?
What would
make it better?
√ Gardens—pretty colours X Cars parked on pavements
√ Roadway X Dog dirt √ Benches on Monks Road
√ Alley gates X Busy main road √ Covers on gullies on the paths
√ New homes on Dorset Street X Graffiti √ Improve the outlook of the factories/workshops
X Rubbish on path behind the new houses
X Unsightly area at the
back of new houses
X Loose wires on front of houses

√ Lovely windows on houses

27
The cycle/footpath—report & pictures by Year 5 children

What would make it better?


? ► Sweep the rubbish up

Dislikes
X
Broken glass
Dog pooh
Dumped rubbish

28
Crossing the Witham
A wheelchair user living on our side of the river
wishing to reach Sustrans’ off-road track has to
trundle all the way back along Waterside North
to cross the bridge on Melville Street, then back
along Waterside South—both riddled with pot-
holes—because not only does the hump-backed
bridge lack a footpath, the gradient is too steep!
Developers’ plans for the Power Station site
include a cycle-friendly bridge and a cycle
route into town—good news for wheelchair
users and cyclists alike.

29
Doors & windows
This pair spotted
and recorded
by
Children of
Monks Abbey
School

30
♥ The quirky windows
and doors to be seen
while walking along
Monks Road never
cease to surprise and
charm the passer-by
who happens to
glance up—humble
windows sporting
stained glass, plaster
gargoyles, each with
its own expression…

31
Trees in front gardens add “Trees are a vital component of the streetscape,
greenery to the street- providing a major aesthetic contribution to our
√ scape, but they need to
be chosen with care of
surroundings. Trees have been used for centu-
ries to enhance buildings, add grandeur to vis-
they’re not to darken the
We love trees!
tas and to soften the harshness of roads. Built
house when fully grown. environments without trees re hard and relent-

!
less. Trees can break monotony in our street
environments, and tie those environments back
to the landscape. Humans have valued trees for
thousands of years and used them for shelter
and protection. Trees have major environ- √ Outside Lincoln College

mental benefits, including giving shade, screen-


ing noise and reducing air pollution. Planted
and cared for correctly, trees have an extremely
important contribution to make to the street
environment.”
In the public consultation of 2006 trees

√ were rated as the most important aspect


of an attractive street environment.
(Streetscape Manual—
Mature elms just coming Lincolnshire County Council)
into leaf at the Abbey Ruins.

This line of poplars provides a green view for many terrace


houses which would otherwise see only pylons.
Possibly under threat from development
of the old Power Station site.
Tree Preservation Order?

Mature sycamores on Monks Road,


causing the pavement to bulge.

X
All that remains, sadly, of two flowering
cherries that added cheer to St Rumbold
Street. Never replaced.

32
Placecheck 2002
A Round-up of Railings
Some loved—some hated
One of the most popular accomplishments in
the Renewal Area was, without doubt, the res-
toration of the boundary walls and railings on
the north side of Monks Road.

Placecheck 2008
It was sparked off by a scheme on a terrace on
Winn Street (above), which pleased passers-by
as well as much as the householders.
The scheme is to be repeated on the south side.
However, the original plan has been curtailed,
so the terrace pictured below will not now be
beautified by new railings and walls, alas.

33
To Hull & the north

cycleways
Traffic
-free t
o Bardn
ey To Boston &
the south

Likes What would make it better?


√ National Cycle Route No 1 ► 20 mph speed limit ► Removal of bollards
► Toucan Crossing on Broadgate
√ Traffic free
Cycling

► HGV restriction
√ Signed route: Tower to City Centre ► A link to Sincil Bank Cycle Route via Witham Park
► A link via Roman Pavement to Greetwell Road
Placecheck 2002 recorded no local Dislikes ► A cycle-friendly bridge over the Witham
cycle routes and only one cycle stand. X Fast traffic ♣ Heavy vehicles ► More cycle stands—secure & convenient
X Bollards on Monks Road ► Instead of erecting NO CYCLING signs, upgrade
X Difficulty crossing Broadgate by bike path for cycle use
= Cycle Stands X The hump-backed bridge over the river

34
A bike parked against
Cycle Parking the Co-op railings

▪ Most car journeys are under 2 miles long


despite splendid
cycle stands !
▪ If such journeys were made on foot or by
bike, traffic congestion would ease at a stroke Brand new cycle
▪ Given a safe place to put a bike, more shelter for all-day
people would choose to cycle cover. Perfect!
▪ Upkeep of car parking space can cost a firm Good location,
Well placed, sturdy, secure—plus it’s an attractive spot! £2000 a year. sufficient stands.
▪ Since 12 bikes can fit into one space many
firms give green points to workers who cycle in
Sturdy and usefully rather than drive—resulting in generous perks
placed, but room for plus mileage allowance
one bike only—and this
outside a busy gym! Cycle stands need to be
◙ able to support a locked bike
◙ as near the entrance as possible
◙ in the open where they can be seen
◙ adequate in quantity
Attractive cycle stands are an added delight! Well done, that corner shop!
On the continent even in the smallest village
▪ students & employees need all-day shelter shop will have a cycle stand for those wishing
Beautiful to behold, good location, plenty of slots—but NOT
▪ residents need storage space indoors to nip to the shop by bike. (Rare in Britain!)
thief-proof. My guess is, this designer doesn’t ride a bike.

These stands seem to be designed to match the railings, so


Ideal location, close to the entrance but possibly too near
there’s ample scope for securing a bike if the cycle park is full.
the wall to give proper support—and oh, dearie me!
The shelter

35
Once centres of social
activity at every street

What happened to corner shops?


corner, these busy little
shops put all our daily
requirements a short
walk from home.
Sadlly, most have been
converted into blunt
street corners—you
wouldn’t even want to
gather there to chat.
Wanted: some truly
imaginative way of
converting these street
corners for the sake of
those who live here-
abouts.
The Neighbourhood
Office achieves this to
a degree, but there
must be other, more
adventurous ways ...

36
The Old Power Station

Before and after


Placecheck 2002

n X
?
h e
t … and the future...
Derelict for years, sin- gled out as
an eyesore on every 2002 Placecheck “The plans look wonderful. They could really lift that river-
hit list and demolished soon after side area and transform it into an extremely attractive
wards. development.
2008, and the ground is cleared ready We do have concerns—flooding is an issue for us, and
we want assurance that shops and services will actually
materialise. In many developments they are promised
but never happen. That aside, the proposals are very

ow exciting.”
n

!
Sandra Donnor
Secretary, Monks Road Neighbourhood Initiative

An indication of the kind of buildings planned for the site, with cycle/footbridge.

Placecheck 2008
37
Monks Road College to the Arboretum
Hillside to Ellesmere Avenue
►Reduce traffic
►20 mph speed limit
►Make footpaths
more attractive
►Cheap and frequent ►Council should adopt the private strip
►Improve handrails on Vine and Cheviot Street
buses of road in front of Ellesmere Avenue
►Revert to road sweeper with broom to clear
►Clamp down on ►Repair broken pavements—Sherwood
rubbish trapped beneath parked cars
pavement parking Street and Jellicoe Avenue
►Promote STOP THE DROP, the 2008 anti-litter
►Create a welcoming approach ►Replace bent sign
campaign
►Consider one-way for vehicles with ►Incentives for people to keep their
►Encourage the use of Free Cycle to dispose
contraflow for bikes front gardens reasonably tidy
of unwanted furniture
►Put the pedestrian first, the cyclist second, ►Paved footpaths on Hillside need re-laying
►Promote the Council’s free collection service
the bus traveller third, the motorist fourth ►More bins
►Arboretum Avenue: create a side entrance
►Pedestrian Zone in front of the college:
worthy of the Arboretum
Recommendations

straighten the bricks—serious trip hazards


►Find out who owns, and who’s responsible for Tower

Recommendations
►Calm Monks Road to give it its frontage
the run-down paths next to the Arboretum ►Close park at night
back
►Traffic calming in front of Arboretum and ►Add some lights
school: block-pave the road with yellow ►Replace signs
bricks so drivers understand their route Milman Road to Frederick Street ►Street cleaners needed
passes through a child-busy area ►Young person’s drop-in centre
►South side of Monks Road: Railing ►Somewhere for people to meet
replacement will help ►Flatten the grass heap
►More control on landlord and multiple ►More Urban Rangers needed
occupancy houses AS IN SCOTLAND ►The council should take responsibility
►Plastic guttering would be better black for improving the Tower estate
►Re-site modern street furniture ►Old hospital—living accommodation? ►Neighbourhood Office/ youth facilities
►Reinstate the bricked area in front of ►Encourage the upkeep of front gardens
the college as the Pedestrian Zone it ►Parking only on one side of Milman Road Waterside North
claims to be—dotted white lines imply ►Wheelie-bins to suit differing situations
►More mixed-use—small shops, cafes etc & Friars Lane to
that vehicles have priority
►Upgrade the Pelican crossing to a Toucan Baggeholme Rd
The Arboretum ►Cycle signs to the Arboretum Café
►Residents Parking
►Repair the damaged bit of the maze ►Bins on every street
►Do something about drainage on the path ►Do something with Kerr Pattern Co
►Fine those who drop litter and let their The Cycleway (the Viking Way) ►NCP on St Rumbold Street an eyesore
dogs foul the grass ►The plot of ground next to the passageway ►Sort out NCP wall
►Increase number of bins at busy times is For Sale. Why not allotments? ►Wheelie-bin shelter for elderly council tenants
►Impose a 20mph limit alongside park ►Better lighting and signage ►Make better recreational use of the riverside
►Use Fosters Field as a play area for older kids ►Litter bins along the path ►Repair potholes
►Improve the path across the field ►A salt/grit bin at the top of each road ►Make a pleassnt footpath next to the river
►Also street signs at the top of streets ►Cycle route to town

38
John Street to Cromwell Street Spa Street to Monks Way Winn Street

►Incentives for home owners and shopkeepers to


Winn Street
►More litterbins on all roads make their fronts aesthetically pleasing
►Intervals of widened pavement with trees
►More green stuff ►More greenery to screen the pylons
planted to split Winn Street into neighbour
►Bins should be taken in, once emptied ► 20 mph limit on Monks Road
hood sections
►John Street Car park: Take some tips ►Improve pathways
►Add pitched roofs to Cannon Street flats
from Thomas Street Car Park ►Cheap and frequent bus services
that are flat-roofed
►When reopened, hope Steam Hammer ►Double yellow line on Monks Road so that cyclists
►Replace front walls of eastern terrace to
retains its sign and uses car park area can use the road safely
match original existing walls
to enhance the attractive building ►Upgrade Monks Way for shared cycle use
►Rates exemption for anyone using a Winn Street south side
disused corner shop as a SHOP ►Street trees with railings round them
►Rename the street below Claremont Napier Street to Percy Street ►Take some tips from the Thomas Street car
Street, south of Winn Street, and give it park; also the business car park south of river
its own identity tag ►Purpose-built bin shelter
►More police patrols to catch culprits
►Eastbourne Street: change street lamp
►Re-site the green cable box ►Pitched
roofs on flats
►Enhance the embankment and railings
►Plant bulbs—even a small ornamental trees
Florence Street to the Abbey Ruins ►Remove redundant street lamps on house walls
►A green space?
►Pavement trees and some architectural feature
would make Bentinck Square a real treat
►Some planting on the waste site—Boston ivy
grown up the back wall to the garages
►Emphasise the gateway aspect of Napier Street—
►Improve pathways down to the river—with trees on the corner
►Patrolling of the area is good—but
should be done on a push-bike
►Rangers shouldn’t motorbike on grass
►Either put a permanent fence round
the ruins, or not at all.
►Better toilets—one for ladies too.
►Tennis court
►Putting green

39
Shuttleworth House Children’s recommendations
►Paint the same colour as Cannon Street flats— Make people’s gardens better
the limestone colour gives continuity within Put bins in back gardens or in bin areas
the city-scape. Mend broken signs
►Build purpose-built shelter for bins Sweep rubbish up
►Split block into public/private houses/businesses
Put covers on water gullies on the paths
to provide funding for reception entrance, site
Improve look of factories behind houses
concierge AND maintenance
►Café, business, leisure—find a use
►Green up—there are several grassed corners
Improve paths
that would take trees
Pick up litter
►Café in the building to connect up. Cut overgrown bushes
►Paint the outside walls—make it look cared for Clean gardens
►A railing replacement programme? Do something to the car park on Cannon Street
Spa Road ►Dustbin service area within flat complex Tidy the gardens in Avondale Street
►Replace bins—and enclose them
►Bring terrace into use with riverside café. Different coloured lamp pots on different streets
►Sell some of the floors in building to businesses, Paint the benches
giving a stronger voice to keep it in good nick More rubbish bins
Don’t litter
Beyond Railway Bridge: Fine people £200.000 for littering
►Tarmac, with tree inside protective fence
►Claim as public land once again BUT allow garage In the Arboretum
to continue parking without looking a mess Graffiti off the bandstand
►Approach rail authority to make aware and connect Lytton Street
►Make use of waste ground for community Paint the upper bandstand
PLUS lighting—even in daylight could look attractive More kids’ stuff
►Tree preservation order on both species of poplar ►Tidy up parking area and perhaps tarmac
►Plant trees as screens ►Wires should be covered up or attached to wall
►More bins—and more people using them Provide a drinking area
►Help youngsters use the river to keep fit Toilets open
►Leisure activities ►Youth facilities (evidence of drinking on streets)
►Improve recycling signs—they’re not clear and Ban drinking altogether
Power Station site therefore not properly used ►Clear fly-tipping Ice cream van/shop open
►Flooding: ground floor garage/ workshops as ►Re-tarmac pavement ►Sort drainage problems
suggested by developer seems reasonable ►More dog bins ►Redesign area ►Play area?
►Save foundation stone ►Green space? ►Parking bays with low hedges
►Find alternative parking area without using river bank and trees? ►Fenced ball-game space?
►Planning gain for new development—cycle/foot ►A formal garden in a walled space as informal
bridge should be done in phase 1, so it’s not gathering place—with fountain?
forgotten

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