Agenda item

N Bateman gave a presentation to members updating them on the current progress of regeneration projects in the town:

• The Maylands Urban Realm improvements has seen the hard landscaping improvements been completed, a shared pedestrian cycleway, new street furniture and entrance totems.
• Durrants Lakes improvements (Phase 1) – the purpose of this is to improve pedestrian connectivity and lake and river bank repairs have been completed.
• Jellicoe Water Gardens Restoration – started in 2015 and is due to be completed in the spring. Works have included – seven new bridges, silt removal, new planting, play area and community building.
• Maylands Business Centre extension – additional five units to be completed by May 2017.
• The Bury – hoping to apply for Heritage Lottery Funding to enable a café, museum and other supporting uses.
• River Gade realignment Gadebridge Park – purpose to improve the sustainability of the river. Proposal is to realign the river south of the White Bridge to complement splash and play park works. This is subject to Cabinet approval but works could start late 2018/early 2019.

Questions and answers

Councillor Hicks asked for clarification on where the Gade River flows. Is the Kings Langley fishing lake in Kings Langley?
N Bateman said there was a culvert that runs under the Town Centre and the excess water discharges in Kings Langley.

Councillor C Wyatt-Lowe congratulated officers on the progress made. However, she had one slight issue and asked if officers were consulting widely with local residents. There were reports that a partially sighted resident did not know trampolines had been installed and fell over. This is something to bear in mind for future play areas as there is currently nothing to warn people.
N Bateman said they consult regularly with the public and hold annual consultation days were they present the programs of work for the future. The Communications team also consult widely and the responses have been positive and people seem to have a lot more pride in the town. In relation to the play areas, visually impaired groups were consulted on the plans and it was advised that a change in surface material and use of contrasting colours would help.
C Taylor said the designers thoroughly researched this and all recommendations were adopted and put in place.

Councillor Adshead asked what had happened to the tightrope play equipment in the town.
N Bateman said there were a couple of accidents so it will be replaced with more suitable equipment.
Councillor Adshead said that people should accept the risks that come with the equipment.
C Taylor said checks were carried out but now the risk had been removed.

Councillor S Hearn asked officers if they were winning the battle with the geese in the Water Gardens.
N Bateman said a temporary small fence had been erected on the water edge which prevents the geese from getting out of the water. A fence more in keeping with the surroundings will be installed in the future.

Councillor Howard said there were some very negative comments on Street life and people have said they are beginning to shop elsewhere. They have mentioned issues with the increased parking fees and uneven paths. This site might be worth looking at.
N Bateman said a large chunk of the pavement is the responsibility of Herts Highways and this has been raised with them.
C Taylor said she was surprised to hear of so many negative comments about the town. Hemel Hempstead was runner up in the National High Street awards which is a great achievement.
Councillor Howard suggested that achievement should be advertised more.

Councillor Anderson asked why the bridges were replaced in the Water Gardens.
N Bateman said that the concrete was in a poor state and could not be refurbished so they are replicas.
Councillor Adshead said the old bridges were difficult for wheelchair users to get over. Will the new bridges have a less steep gradient?
N Bateman said unfortunately they are restricted as they are grade 2 listed so they are limited on design. They have put up signage to direct wheelchair users on better, more accessible routes.

Councillor Hicks said he hoped the new concrete would be a better quality.
N Bateman said yes, it is British Standard.

Councillor Riddick asked if there were any fish in the river.
N Bateman said at certain times of the year the public should be able to see some fish.

Councillor Hicks congratulated officers on ensuring the utility companies use the correct materials when completing works in the Old Town. Could this be the same for Berkhamsted and Tring High Street?
C Taylor said that when the Old Town work was being completed, they made sure they had a good stock of spare materials and DBC store these materials on behalf on HCC to ensure the right material is used.

Councillor Marshall asked the committee for their comments regarding promoting and marketing the councils work.
C Taylor said there is a communications officer in the team and they promote the work on social media, The Gazette and the Dacorum Digest. Long term, if the town centre gets its Business Improvement District then this will help to promote the town.

Councillor Adshead asked if there was still a rat problem in the Water Gardens.
C Taylor said there had been extra resources and pest control had upped their patrols but the rats have dispersed after being disturbed by the building works.

Councillor Hicks asked if the town centre had a noticeboard.
C Taylor said there was the big TV screen used for advertising and a third of the time was to advertise community events. There will also be big screens at the Forum to notify the public of events.

Outcome

That the Strategic Planning and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee note the report.