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Written 28/08/02
Notes of Community Participation Meeting No.2, Held on 21 August,
6 – 8 pm in the The Arena Leisure Centre, Bognor Regis
The following notes reflect the main points arising during the above
meeting.
Those Present:
Name | Organisation (if any) |
Jennie Leggatt | SoRA |
Maxine Beuret, Francine Ross | SoRA |
Kirsty Routledge | West Sussex County Council |
Vince McCabe | Resident |
Peter and Katherine Dye | Residents |
| Ian Robinson | Resident |
| C. Haitt | Resident |
| Mr. Williams | Resident |
| Diane Rogers | Resident |
| Jeremy Rogers | Resident |
| Nikki Spencer | Resident |
| M.Diggens | Resident |
| Susan Apps | Resident |
| Adam Latus | Resident |
| Mary Lofthouse | Resident |
| Mr J. Clark | Resident |
| J. Linnard | Resident |
| Mr and Mrs Robinson | Residents |
| Mrs R Monk | Resident |
| Ann Widdis | Resident |
| Diana Wilson | Resident |
| B J Hale | Resident |
| Mark Beaucroft | Resident |
| Mr and Mrs Clark | Residents |
| Mr Lewis | Resident |
| S Endacott | Resident |
| R Nash | Resident |
| M Lawrence | Resident |
| J Todd | Resident |
| S Ridler | Resident |
| Mrs Lewis | Resident |
| Mr Ockwell | Resident (elected Secretary) |
| Mr M Hughes | Resident |
| Mr and Mrs LeGrand | Residents |
| Mr and Mrs Harvey | Residents |
| John H Woods | Resident |
| Catherine Morrish | Orchard District Councillor |
| Mr and Mrs Trent | Resident |
| P Rickman | Resident |
| J White | Resident |
| Mrs L Molyneux | Resident |
| Mr R Orford | Resident |
Agenda
Item Action
At the start of the meeting the following documents
were circulated:
Notes
of the introductory CPG meeting held on 24th July, 2002
in the Community Hall, Westloats lane.
An Agenda
for this evening’s meeting
A
flyer publicising a forthcoming event on 31st August.
A contact
list to obtain details of those present who wished to continue to be
involved in the CPG.
1. Introduction
Jennie Leggatt (JL) introduced herself, Maxine Beuret
and Francine Ross from SoRA to the meeting. SoRA is managing the
consultation process for the project on behalf of WSCC.Also
present was Kirsty Routledge (KR) of West Sussex County Council
(WSCC), and with whom SoRA is working very closely.
Immediate questions and comments coming from the
floor made it clear that there were different levels of understanding
amongst those present about both the project and the purpose of this
meeting. This needed to be addressed so that the meeting could
proceed.
In summary, the following points of information were
provided by JL:
A leaflet had recently been prepared and distributed by WSCC that was
intended to give background information about the project.The
information in it should be read as examples only.
As
could be seen from the circulated notes of the previous meeting on
24th July, the design of Home Zones is unique to each
area and actively involves local people.
A Home
Zone should not be confused with a Low Speed Zone.
It was
accepted that the map shown on the WSCC leaflet may create an
erroneous impression that Hillsboro Road was not included in either
scheme (Home Zone or Low Speed Zone).
Another map
was shown to the meeting, and copies available distributed, that
clearly indicated Hillsboro Road and its residents are included and
will be consulted.
Today’s
meeting was not intended to be a formal ‘public meeting’
and people should not be overly concerned if they had not been
present at the previous one.There would be many more events and
many opportunities for all those who wished to, to be involved and
to have their say.
Apologies
were extended to those who believed they had not received the
original leaflet. However, the raising of awareness about the
project would be incremental and SoRA and WSCC welcomed input from
those present – and indeed all those living and working in the
area – to continuously improve communication.
Key to this
would be the formation of a committee to lead the Community
Participation Group – and one purpose of this evening’s
meeting was to make people aware of the Group and invite them to
nominate themselves for inclusion.
As
soon as was practicable, it was proposed to have officers and
members elected to the CPG and this would then be the principle
means of ensuring that all local residents were kept fully informed
of progress. The CPG would include representatives from every road
in the proposed Home Zone and Low Speed Zone area.
In the
meantime, notices in local shops, articles in local newspapers, the
delivery of flyers (through local volunteers) would continue to be
ways of publicising events.
JL stressed
that the project is still in its very earliest stages and that
nothing is yet totally defined – including which roads will
form the HomeZone.
Those
present were asked to provide contact details if they wished to do
so on the list circulated.
- Other
Matters Arising
2.1 Some
other issues raised by those present were of immediate relevance to
WSCC generally, including any plans for dropped kerbs outside
individual homes. These were noted by KR who will convey them to the
relevant departments in WSCC. Action: KR
2.2 Child Safety. In discussion about how to promote the safety of
children in particular, traffic calming measures were widely approved
as desirable. JL advised that although one aspect that had secured
funding for this Home Zone was the child accident rate and potential
for accidents, part of the approach would be to achieve “integrated
safety” for all. Traffic calming measures were more relevant
to the Low Speed Zone and whilst important, this is not the only
issue to be addressed. Whilst a very few roads would form the actual
Home Zone, a key part of its aims is that all residents will feel the
benefit. It is therefore essential that they help to design the
future of their area.
2.3 Decision making and consultation. The consultation process will
include
residents, schools and businesses every step of the way towards construction of
the final scheme; the consultation process will run throughout the
life of the project. No decisions at all have been made. Therefore
residents’ concerns (for example those raised about youth and
anti-social behaviour, and which may affect design-related issues
such as street seating) will be included in the pool of information
being gathered. That pool of information will be used to aid draft
designs that will eventually be put to local people. However, it
should be kept in mind that as with most things dealt with in a
democratic way, in practical terms it will not be possible to meet
all the requests of every single person. Action: JL
2.4 General standards of maintenance and cleansing. As with all other
points raised at this and any other meetings, comments made by those
present concerning the standard of maintenance and cleansing, and the
positioning of street furniture such as litter bins would be added to
the project database Action: JL
2.4 Enforcement issues. One concern raised was that, as things stand, a
perception exists that police and the local authorities do not ensure
speed and other limits are enforced. How might this change in the
future? It was suggested that the CPG will provide an appropriate
way to raise these and other issues.In addition, as such concerns
emerge through the consultation process, they will be conveyed (with
local involvement) to appropriate contact points. One example of
this is that the police have a representative on the Steering Group
and such matters will be raised for his attention at SG meetings.
However, speed limits can be controlled by other methods such as
clever use of road design. Action: JL to Steering Group
3. Election of Temporary CPG Meetings Secretary
Mr R Ockwell
(Hillsboro Road) volunteered to act as temporary Meetings Secretary
and was duly elected. It was universally accepted that Mr. Ockwell
will capture future meetings on a recording device as he has a
hearing disability.
4. Progress on ‘At Home Day’, 31st August
JL
introduced and explained the concept of the “At Home Day”
on August 31st.
The event was being organised at the request of local
people to provide further information about Home and Low Speed Zones,
and to encourage as many people as possible to come together and
begin to exchange ideas and views.
JL: advised that
this part of the consultation process in terms of taking forward the
idea of helping to restore vitality to the neighbourhood. Its aim is
to contribute to establishing a creative and friendly atmosphere
conducive to generating ideas for the project. It is also about
continuing to provide information to help formulate ideas.
Maxine Beuret
explained what will happen on the day:
We will
give examples of how other Home Zones have been devised and
designed. Once again this is for information only and in no way
meant to dictate how the Bognor Regis Home Zone will develop.
There will
be exhibition boards including an ideas board for residents to post
suggestions;
There will
be a demonstration of how a combination of changes to street
furniture, lighting and greenery can positively influence the
environment;
Food will
be available;
Children
will be included. Specific activities are a painting competition and
a logo designing competition for the project;
An
opportunity will exist for residents not previously involved to sign
up for participation.
6. Other Forthcoming Consultation Events
6.1 ‘Baseline Data Collection’. From and
between 25th – 28th September SoRA will carry out
household and on-street surveys locally which will gain information on
many aspects of quality of life in the neighbourhood. (Note: local
residents cannot carry out their own market research for reasons of
confidentiality and potential bias).
6.2 Next CPG Meeting. The next CPG meeting will be
between 6.00 and 8.00 pm at the Community Hall, Westloats Lane. All are
welcome for what should be a more informal opportunity for local people
to get together with project team members. In particular, this meeting
will look to form a first-stage CPG Committee.
6.3 Fun Bus Events. On 27th September,
the FunBus will be out and about in the area with more chances for the
young to enter the Home Zone logo competition.
6.4 At the Arena. On 28th September, SoRA
will have a stand at the Arena. This is ‘open house’ for
people to visit, gain further information talk to the project team.
7. Any Other Business
There was no further business
8. Date of Next Meeting
This was agreed 25 September (as above). Venue: The Community Centre,
Westloats Lane, 6.00 to 8.00 p.m.
The meeting closed at 8.30 p.m.
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