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Written 21/08/02
Bognor Regis Home and Low Speed Zone Project Community Participation Group.
Notes of Community Participation Meeting No.1 Held on 24 July 6 - 8 pm at The Community Hall, Westloats Lane, Bognor Regis
The following notes reflect the main points discussed and agreed at the above meeting.
Those Present:
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Name | Organisation
| | Gill Richards | Bognor Youth Club
| | R Black | Neighbourhood Watch
| | L A Richardson | Resident
| | V N McCabe | Resident
| | C J Eschbacher | Resident
| | T Allaher | Resident
| | R Nash | BRTC
| | PC Shanks | Sussex Police
| | Christine Thompson | Resident
| | L Edgell | ADC
| | K Routledge (KR) | West Sussex County Council (WSCC) (Project Assistant
| | G Parfect (GP) | WSCC Project Consultation Manager
| | A Ekinsmith (AE) | WSCC (Project Manager)
| | S Holland | WSCC Councillor
| | J Cosgrove | Mayor
| | Francis Oppler | Bognor Regis Town Council
| | J Leggatt (JML) | Social Research Associates (SoRA) (Consultation Consultants)
| | A Zvesper (AZ) | SoRA (Consultation Consultants)
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1. Introduction /circulation of contact details
AZ introduced those present from WSCC and SRA, explaining their roles in the project. AE, GP and KR were part of the West Sussex County Council team leading the project, whilst AZ and JML represented the company appointed by WSCC to lead consultation. Consultation and community involvement had a vital role to play in all the work to be done. TRL had recently been appointed as the engineering/design team and they would be involved in any actual construction work.
Those present were asked to provide contact details if they wished to do so and a list was circulated.
2. What is a Home Zone? and
3. Why has this area been selected?
These two points are closely related.
AE explained that WSCC had successfully bid for funding for a Home Zone project, supported by a surrounding Low Speed Zone. Half a million pounds to deliver the project had been awarded. Whilst the actual roads that would become the Home Zone itself had not yet been decided, there had been enough information about the local area
(* see footnote note for further information on area) including the need for community regeneration and a high child accident rate, for the award to be made. Whilst there was not sufficient funding to cover every road in the area, spin off benefits would be achieved.
The award had been made out of the Government-led Home Zone Challenge-bid. Out of 237 bids from across England, 67 had been successful including that for WSCC.
GP stated that WSCC had prepared an introductory leaflet giving initial information about the Home/Low Speed Zone project and these were being delivered throughout the local area. There was some confusion existing between Home and Low Speed Zones. A Home Zone was about reclaiming road and other space for local residents and changing the priorities of use from motor vehicles to people. A Low Speed Zone, which would include innovative traffic calming measures, would be introduced to reduce speeds and change behaviour before drivers arrived in or close to the Home Zone itself.
Amongst the list of objectives that must be achieved are the following:
- Fostering a sense of local community and spirit
- Reduce isolation (for example amongst the elderly and those on low incomes)
- Increase the ability of children to play in the street
- Increase safety and personal security (both accidents and how safe from fear of crime people might feel whilst moving around in the area)
- Enable people to walk and cycle safely in the local area and nearby destinations
- Improve the quality of life
Good local community facilities, which might be improved, (such as the Community Hall)
were another requirement that the area clearly met, as was the presence of some 3,000+
children at local schools.
The reduction in traffic speeds in a Home Zone is not achieved by conventional traffic calming measures: i.e. no humps and bumps'
For those wanting further information, there is a full list of objectives that Home Zones must meet and this can be provided on request (to WSCC).
The local authority and consultant teams want the project to be community-led and owned so that ideas would be drawn out through consultation and there would be no `dictating'
Maps of the area, showing existing measures to slow traffic, and to show boundaries of the b speed zone as it currently stands were provided. (It was noted that further details concerning
Mons Avenue need to be added)
Action: WSCC to ensure map is updated.
In response to questions from those present: WSCC/SRA explained that
- The map distributed is still a working document and will change
- The nature of the actual Home Zone would physically change
- Exactly how that was achieved would most definitely be based on views and needs of those living (and working) locally
- The Home Zone itself would not incorporate `lumps and bumps' i.e. would be unlike earlier traffic calming measures - indeed funding would not be provided if that were the plan.
- This is a real opportunity to achieve changes for the better and further funding is likely to be forthcoming to do even more, once the initial stages are demonstrated as successful
- Construction/building would begin in 2004.
All agreed that people and their needs - across all age and social groups - must be the priority and that community involvement is vital. The inclusion of and input from young people, including school children is especially important. The way the community currently `works' and its needs, including bus services, emergency services, businesses would also need to be portrayed.
AZ assured everyone that the consultation `net' would ensure that the views of as many people as possible are obtained. As information is gained and `given back' things would become much clearer.
4. The Role of the Community Participation Group
A Steering Group, made up of a number of organisations, has already been set up to help run the project.
However, to ensure that local people are continuously and fully represented, a Community Participation Group (CPG) is to be set up and that was the purpose of this first meeting. One of SoRA's most important aims is to help set up this Group, support it for as long as necessary and asked for, then `hand over the keys' to the Group itself. The Group could largely set out its own terms and decide what part it would like to play throughout the project's life - and afterwards during implementation.
The Group might like to consider acting as a `channel' for giving information about the project to local people, recruiting more members to the group, and helping generally with ensuring good information is coming into the project.
Officers - especially a Secretary to take notes and distribute them - would need to be elected as soon as possible.
Bognor Regis Home and Low Speed Zone Project
Community Participation Group.
Meeting No.1 24 July 2002
5. Baseline Data Collection
AZ explained that as part of building up a clear and accurate picture of how people are currently living their lives in the area, what they like and what they don't like, SoRA will be undertaking `Baseline Data Collection' in the near future. This would include information that TRL need to help them with their work. The kinds of questions that may be asked and the picture that is built up from them include:
- Information on traffic speeds, the behaviour of drivers, parking problems
- Who lives here (the' people)
- Who works here?
- What do children do in the area? Are they safe?
- What do people like about the area?
- What would or could be changed and why?
In other words, problems, issues, good points and ideas for the future.
SoRA's trained staff would carry out the work as door- to- door surveys and all interviewers will have clear identification. The CPG will have an important role to play in communicating to local residents what this work is about and SoRA will let everyone know when this work is about to start as soon as possible.
6. Other forthcoming Consultation Events
AZ outlined present plans for activities and events to inform people and to help involve them in the project. These include
- Regular newsletters
- Exhibitions or similar events to provide information and enable people to give their views
- Social events
- 'Planning for real' - including an opportunity for children to construct models showing their ideas
We need to involve every road in the area and to enlist help from existing organisations (e.g. Neighbourhood Watch and the Community Centre).
Suggestions and ideas, especially from the CPG are more than welcome. Ideas and suggestions provided from those present included:
- Involving the Fun Bus (of special interest for parents and children)
- Using Neighbourhood Watch to provide many aspects of information
What clearly had emerged from discussions at this meeting, is the need to have an introductory key event as soon as possible to explain the Home/Low Speed Zone to people, recruit others to the CPG, and show what could be achieved - but without imposing what may have happened elsewhere on this area; children's' activities should be included.
Those present, who agreed to act as the initial CPG, requested that they be co-hosts for the
event. A provisional date of Saturday 31st August, between 10.00 am and 4.30 pm, at the
Community Hall, Westloats Lane was decided upon for this event (to be called an
At Home Day).
Action: SoRA to develop ideas and advise
CPG of progress at its next meeting
7. AOB
There was no further business
8. Date of Next Meeting
The date of the next meeting was agreed as 21st August, at the same time i.e. 6 -8 pm. The Community Hall unfortunately was not available and the meeting would therefore be held at the Arena. Accordingly SoRA would book a room there.
The meeting closed at approximately 7.30 p.m.
* The project area
The project area (encompassing both the Home and Low Speed Zone) is in North West Bognor Regis. The proposed area is bounded to the south east by Hawthorn Road and north by the main A259 Chichester Road. On the western side, it is marked by the campus of the 3 main schools. To the south lies a further infants' school and a large allotment garden.
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