Old news this but worth repeating - and a valuable first proper post to this site because it gives a good idea of what Walthamstow residents want...
On 15 November 2006, Waltham Forest Civic Society and Cleveland Park Residents’ Association held a big public meeting where around 120 residents met to discuss ideas for the future of the “Arcade” site and their thoughts about Waltham Forest council’s proposed sell-off of the site.
Below is a summary of what the local community said they wanted.
What the cabinet should do on Tuesday:
Not sell the site (VOTE: 90+ in favour of council keeping ownership of the site; 6 against)
Defer sale/lease until after widespread consultation with the community (VOTE: 100+ want sale deferred until proper consultation; 1 against)
Develop a proper brief for the sale, withhold freehold/leasehold until building complete, on time (VOTE: 100+ developer should be held to timetable in this way; 1 against)
Choose quality over cash (VOTE: 80+ in favour of quality development winning bid; 0 in favour of it just going to highest bidder)
Honour old commitments (VOTE: 100+ council should honour previous commitments on height/massing of Henry Boot scheme; 0 against)
Secure the EMD's future as a cinema, either by having developer link the two sites or by putting money from Arcade sale into EMD purchase (VOTE: 80+ want EMD/Granada as cinema and linked to Arcade; 1 against)
The most popular uses for the Arcade site:
A cinema, with the EMD/Granada cinema cited as a key location that should be brought back into use and joined to the Arcade site (VOTE: 80+ want EMD/Granada as cinema and linked to Arcade; 1 against)
Some green/public space (VOTE: 80+ in favour of Arcade site redevelopment having some green space; 16 site should only be green space; 11 site should have no green space)
Performance/display space for the arts, theatre etc. (VOTE: 80+ would pay for arts use in Walthamstow regularly; 2 would not)
Community meeting space and social space
Small shops, cafés, bars and restaurants not large chain stores
What next?
This document is being circulated to all councillors and everyone who attended the meeting.
The council cabinet meets on Tuesday 21 November, 7:30pm in the Town Hall. The agenda includes deciding whether to sell the Arcade site.
Waltham Forest Arts Council meets on Wednesday 22 November, 7:30pm in the Town Hall. Cabinet members will make a presentation regarding their decision.
Below is a summary of most of the ideas for the site (both long- and short-term) that came out of the meeting.
Opinions: should the Arcade be sold?
The land belongs to the community, and they should decide what to do with such a key site, not developers (VOTE: 90+ in favour of council keeping ownership of the site; 6 against)
Site should be leased by the council, with it retaining ownership of the freehold for the community
Sale would be "short term thinking" - land prices are rising and due to rise more with Olympics, plus profit is not everything, and once site is sold, it can't be un-sold
Short-term ideas for using the Arcade site while vacant (in descending order of popularity):
Open space (VOTE: 100+ site should temporarily be used as green space; 1 against)
Small workshops/stalls like Spitalfields market, for fashion, arts and crafts small businesses
Farmers’ market
Sports facilities (tennis courts, ice rink etc.)
Play area for children
Allotments
Car park
Nature reserve
What Walthamstow needs (in descending order of popularity):
A cinema, with the EMD/Granada cinema cited as a key location that should be brought back into use and joined to the Arcade site (VOTE: 80+ want EMD/Granada as cinema and linked to Arcade; 1 against)
Some green/public space (VOTE: 80+ in favour of Arcade site redevelopment having some green space; 16 site should only be green space; 11 site should have no green space)
Performance/display space for the arts, theatre etc. (VOTE: 80+ would pay for arts use in Walthamstow regularly; 2 would not)
Community meeting space and social space
Small shops not large chain stores
Cafés, bars and restaurants – with many again mentioning smaller units rather than chains
Eco-friendly buildings – making a statement for the borough, could include an eco-centre/centre for "alternative technology"
Youth centre and/or youth services provision, including play area for older children
Car parking
No tall buildings (VOTE: 100+ council should honour previous commitments on height/massing of Henry Boot scheme; 0 against)
Live music venue/music centre
Small workshops/stalls like Spitalfields market, for fashion, arts and crafts small businesses
A landmark building
An improved post office, library and market
Gym/health club
Sports facilities
Affordable homes
City farm
Other long-term ideas mentioned: the London Butterfly House is currently looking for a home; allotments; better cleaning and maintenance for the area; better consultation of minority ethnicity residents; a farmers' market; an Alfred Hitchock-themed arts/cinema centre; crèche provision; a bowling venue; putting green space on top of building; cutting traffic on Hoe Street to improve green space/site; using a frontage that looks like the building used to (before Arcade), with modern building behind
Other short-term ideas mentioned: putting graffiti art on hoardings by local youth, making a beach (like the South Bank), getting rid of the rats
No comments:
Post a Comment