Rayleigh Town Centre Area Action Plan - Issues and Options

Comment

Representation ID: 23991

Received: 19/12/2009

Respondent: The National Trust Rayleigh Mount Local Committee

Option 1-
There is some merit in the current location of the Somerfield shop. It is certainly seen by the traffic coming along Websters Way, which probably means it picks up passing trade. It must also help to support the other shops in Eastwood Road - which might fail without it. Being close to the Websters Way car park also makes it convenient for shoppers (although it has it's own car park to the rear as well).

Option 2-
I feel the Police station should be demolished, and replaced with a more attractive building. I cannot imagine there is any cladding treatment that would prevent this building being an over-dominant eyesore. I also feel the shops just past the Police Station are so unattractive in appearance that they should be demolished and better quality building put in their place. There is quite a lot of parking space to the rear of the Police Station/shops which might, as part of a comprehensive redevelopment, become an additional public car park. A mix of retail and residential use (possibly with one
large shop to act as an attractor) would have chance of transforming the end of High Street.

Option 3 -
The library building is not attractive, and is actually quite wasteful of space, so I would not object to its redevelopment (provided a public library continued in the High Street somewhere). Again, there is a parking area to the rear of the existing building, which might be considered for public use in any redevelopment scheme.

I would rather see an additional large food store or other large shop rather than just re-locating Somerfield. A larger Iceland frozen food store perhaps? If it is not possible to attract a major retailer, I would not be unhappy if this end of the High Street included more residential development - so long as its appearance enhanced the street scene. Quite a lot of pedestrians along this end of the High Street are actually mums dropping their children off at Love Lane school - so things that appealed to them might succeed.

I would favour landscaping the car park because attractive parking areas do make a favourable impression on visitors.

Comment

Representation ID: 23992

Received: 21/12/2009

Respondent: The National Trust Rayleigh Mount Local Committee

One building in this area which might be regarded as detrimental to the quality of the Conservation Area (at least as far as it's external appearance is concerned) is the Mill arts and events centre. It is utterly out of keeping with the Windmill - indeed, it turns its back on the Windmill entirely, and detracts from it's setting.
Should it be considered for demolition and rebuilding? A replacement building might include some retail units as well as cultural/leisure facilities, to entice more people into Bellingham Lane. In fact, redevelopment might allow a purpose designed market area to be created (drawing people up to the Windmill).
The new building could face on to the Windmill and improve it's setting- perhaps it might allow for coach parking, which is not really possible at present, to make this area more visitor friendly.
This might be a very long-term aspiration, rather than anything that could be considered in the short term, but it is worth thinking about. At least it is a building the District Council actually owns, and can control directly, albeit it is managed by a private company.

Comment

Representation ID: 23993

Received: 21/12/2009

Respondent: The National Trust Rayleigh Mount Local Committee

It is certainly true that a visitor arriving by train would find it almost impossible to know how to get to the High Street from the station, because there are no directional signs at all (it is as if our town is indifferent to visitors). There is only a small, wall mounted map, not easy to follow by a stranger.
I do not agree that the Mount should be regarded simply as a route between the station and the High Street. I feel the Mount and the Windmill should be promoted as visitor attractions in their own right.
What is needed at the station is a finger signpost, with one finger reading 'Town Centre and Dutch Cottage' pointing up Crown Hill, and another finger reading 'Rayleigh Mount and Windmill' pointing up Castle Drive.
Incidentally, there is a leaflet rack at the station, with leaflets about Maldon, Colchester, Suffolk etc. - everything except Rayleigh. The council could try to ensure there is at least a small rack there with some leaflets about the town (e.g. the Windmill leaflet produced by the District Council, the Rayleigh town trail leaflet produced by the town council, and the Rayleigh Mount leaflet produced by the National Trust). At least then visitors might feel they were not being totally ignored.

Comment

Representation ID: 23994

Received: 29/12/2009

Respondent: The National Trust Rayleigh Mount Local Committee

I do not understand what is meant by the reference to 'a formalised entrance to the Mount'.
I note paragraph 4.5.11 (page 81) talks about 'Creating a new access to the Mount', and paragraph 4.4.3 (page 72) mentions 'providing a new direct connection to the Mount', but nowhere in the consultation document is it explained what this really means. Does it allude to a new entrance in a different location? Or just to some alteration to the existing entrance to the Mount?
I would request that the National Trust is fully consulted about this particular aspect of the Area Action Plan. Some explanation needs to be provided of what, exactly, is being proposed, so that the National Trust can respond in a meaningful way.

Object

Representation ID: 23995

Received: 19/12/2009

Respondent: The National Trust Rayleigh Mount Local Committee

Option 1-
I am not convinced there is any need or merit in reducing the number of taxi waiting spaces. However, if this is carried out, could it result in a few additional public parking spaces? These would be very popular for shoppers just wanting to buy a few items, or pick up a prescription from the chemist, for instance.

Option 2-
I totally oppose this option. The taxi rank serves as a useful purpose for shoppers. Its removal would be a retrograde step.
Many a time, I have seen elderly folk, with bags of shopping, picking up a taxi from the rank to take them home. To a large extent it is the elderly people who frequent the High Street shops on a daily basis. They may not buy huge amounts, but they are regular shoppers in the town centre. Their needs and interests should be taken into account.

Object

Representation ID: 25508

Received: 21/12/2009

Respondent: The National Trust Rayleigh Mount Local Committee

Option 1-
I am not convinced there is any need or merit in reducing the number of Taxi waiting spaces. However, if this is carried out, could it result in a few additional public parking spaces? These would be very popular for shoppers just wanting to buy a few items, or pick up a prescription from the chemist, for instance.

Option 2-
I totally oppose this option. The taxi rank serves as a useful purpose for shoppers. Its removal would be a retrograde step.
Many a time, I have seen elderly folk, with bags of shopping, picking up a taxi from the rank to take them home. To a large extent it is elderly people who frequent the High Street shops on a daily basis. They may not buy huge amounts, but they are regular shoppers in the town centre. Their needs and interests should be taken into account.

Comment

Representation ID: 25509

Received: 21/12/2009

Respondent: The National Trust Rayleigh Mount Local Committee

Option 1-
What would be useful is a sign in the High Street giving the opening times of the Windmill. At present, people have to go right up to the notice board outside the mill to find out when it is open- most don't bother. A big sign in the High Street advertising the Windmill (which cannot actually be seen from the High Street at all) would certainly encourage more people to venture up Bellingham Lane.

Option 2-
The current entrance to the Mount is quite satisfactory. Being next to the public car park allows visitors to park and go straight into the Mount. Being next to the well signed café allows the option of refreshment. Also, in the Mill arts and events centre, next to the entrance, are toilets that can be used by the public (although oddly, no signage either outside the building, or in the car park, or in the High Street, exists to inform visitors of this - something that could be remedied). The large sign over the entrance to the Mount makes its presence clear to anyone using the car park or, indeed, to anyone walking along Bellingham Lane to the Windmill. The rather severe railings at the entrance to the Mount are gradually being softened with planting (although this process is being hampered by almost continuous vandalism). The planting is also creating a more flowery, welcoming effect at the entrance- but this may take year's to work fully.
However, the one disadvantage of this entrance is that it cannot be seen from the Windmill. Now that the National Trust has an information point on the third floor of the Windmill, it is investigating the possibility of an entrance closer to the Windmill, with a bridge spanning the dry moat to the inner bailey of the Castle site. This would link the Windmill and the Mount together in a single, more viable, visitor attraction. If, and when, this proposed new entrance is created, the National trust will no doubt then review the status of the present Bellingham Lane entrance to Rayleigh Mount.

Option 3-
This may be a madcap idea, but with the opportunity for such an extensive redevelopment of High Street frontage, how about considering building a new 'Rayleigh Castle'? A building perhaps as much as 4 stories high could command a massive presence in the town centre. The castle effect could be created with a stone (or similar) façade, crenulated roof, turret features, medieval style fenestration, arrow slits etc. The ground floor could be retail units, the upper floors residential. There could be an archway complete with portcullis (perhaps even a drawbridge) through to an inner courtyard. Perhaps there could be public access to the roof, giving good views out. Imagine giving living at no. 1, Rayleigh Castle. Or visiting the Roof Garden Café.

Of course, the original Rayleigh Castle was a small, timber fortification, very different in every respect- but that's not quite the point. Such an iconic, extraordinary building could really draw visitors to our High Street. It would be one big fake, but still impressive, and attractive in it's own right, if well done. Once here, visitors could explore the real history of the town- the Windmill, the Medieval earthwork (Mount), the Parish church, Martyrs memorial, Dutch Cottage, etc. ( mind you, the Dutch Cottage itself is a bit of a fake- just a later copy of the real Dutch cottages on Canvey Island).

Giving a Castle back to Rayleigh is certainly a big idea. If nothing else, it would brighten the lives of future generations of Rayleigh children.

I just feel that trying to get new buildings (even quirky ones) that would appeal to visitors, and trying to make the town centre as a 'stop off' and as friendly as possible to visitors, with more thought going into attracting them, would increase the viability of the High Street. As Rayleigh has expanded, new housing at the edges is a long way from the town centre, and is not the main shopping attraction for all residents it once was - as they can go by car to out of town shops. So we have to make the High Street a magnet again. Perhaps, to a different Client base?

Comment

Representation ID: 25510

Received: 12/08/2010

Respondent: The National Trust Rayleigh Mount Local Committee

I am in favour of the redevelopment of the former Tesco store, but I would not wish to see a loss of parking, so I cannot specifically support any one of the rather prescriptive options presented.
Surely it is possible to get a new, more attractive building on the Tesco site without losing the parking area? A taller building would be OK, if necessary.
The problem with this consultation exercise is that the options are of a take it or leave it nature- there is not much opportunity to pick and choose elements from within each option, or to suggest variations or alternatives. It has the feel that decisions haven already been taken about the scope of what alterations can occur- and consultees are merely expected o endorse one option or another in its entirety. This is highly unsatisfactory. For instance, in this case, couldn't the internally located service area be larger, to include parking (in the option 3 design suggestion), with part/ all of the new building being an extra storey high to compensate?

Comment

Representation ID: 25511

Received: 21/12/2009

Respondent: The National Trust Rayleigh Mount Local Committee

It is a shame that the land to the rear of Rayleigh Lanes could not have been retained as a car park. However, if there is a chance of considering the planning permission that has already been granted, the opportunity should obviously be taken to try to obtain a greater benefit. I am concerned that the amount of parking available around the Town centre seems set to diminish.
I would much rather see the retention of/expansion of surface car parking as opposed to having to accept a multi-storey facility.

Comment

Representation ID: 25512

Received: 21/12/2009

Respondent: The National Trust Rayleigh Mount Local Committee

I am not in favour of the Police station being simply refurbished - I am in favour of it being demolished and replaced by a more attractive new building.
However, if the health centre (Doctor's surgery) is re-located, I would favour an encouragement of Webster's Way car park. When the surgery was built, a narrow strip of King George's playing fields was taken without permission of the National Playing Field's Association. If the building is demolished will this strip of land be returned to playing field use? If not, why not?
I am not in favour of a multi-storey car park being built. I feel this would, inevitably, lead to higher car-parking charges- which is exactly the opposite of what is needed to help the High Street flourish.
Figure 92 (Option 2) seems to indicate that the surface car park would be reduced in size to provide the multi-storey facility. I am not in favour of that.
However, if the multi-storey does come, hiding it within a wrapping of commercial uses is a good idea. But would they be viable if the Somerfield store wasn't there to draw people along the Eastwood Road? I do quite like the Green corridor idea to link the High Street.