Waterlooville Centre urgently needs action.
From "Corporate Strategy"
Go to the project
In no particular order
- Waterlooville Centre is a mess and has been for years, the old Waitrose is still empty and unused
- Recycling needs to be improved as many items that can be recycled currently are not.
- Green waste is only available to some not all and ought to be included in basic rates costs as the material produces a resource worth £
- Closer attention ought to be paid to building as many new builds have little or no architectural merit e.g. the proposed Waterlooville plans and the current buildings have little interest in detail.
- I am aware of a mismatch between building control and other agencies such as the EA thus allowing unnecessary problems
- There is insufficient attention to tree planting and or other ecologically important additions.
- Stronger links ought to be put in place with policing in the borough as cycling and e-scooters on pavements are ignored as is speeding in many side roads and litter is a problem.
- If there is to be more building of houses/other properties such as industrial, then infrastructure must also be upgraded.
- Any new buildings ought to have solar panels and ground source heat pumps included in the design (not air source).
No doubt there are more ideas, but this is fine for now, however a lot of the ideas in the strategy have been around for a long time already as ideas and nothing more.
Comments(11)
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Profile of Jo Dyne
Posted by:Jo Dyne
3 years ago
Completely agree that Waterlooville has been neglected by HBC for decades and the locals have been ignored. I am so disgusted with the councils lack of anything for this area other than more houses with no interest of anything else for the large community, you only seem to commission a report for Waterlooville to try to keep us quiet for a while which is a waste of residents money. All we seem to hear about is funding new projects in Havant. Where are the concrete plans for Waterlooville/Cowplain other than housing, we are desperate for entertainment,better retail and some general improvements in this very neglected area.
Profile of iain jackson
Posted by:iain jackson
3 years ago
@Jo Dyne Thanks for your comments and support. 100% with you. Idea of a TOWN CENTRE, no matter how large or small, where local residents can browse, get entertainment, etc. in a clean, welcoming, environmentally friendly and maintained appears to be irrelevant to HBC as it has been for years. Apparently a thing of the past since everyone shops' online these days, similar re. entertainment.
Doubt if we will get anywhere, but at least 5 of us now trying our best. Awaiting 'Official' response from a Nick Rogers whoever he is.
Profile of David Kenneth Beck
Posted by:David Kenneth Beck
3 years ago
@iain jackson Agree, we pay are rates and these are very expensive and what we need is action and less talk. It may be also a good managerial plan to have a thorough audit of HBC expenditure as I am certain a good many posts for irrelevant nanny state and woke stuff could be removed. Each and every manager is responsible for inclusion and diversity etc and there is no need for separate posts for this. We do not need emails to tell us to drink plenty of water when it is hot in the summer or to keep warm when it is cold and other nonsense. Removal of litter would be good and planting of trees and chasing up other elements of expenditure to ensure good value for money, start with infrastructure responsibilities such as Southern water 's outdated sewage systems, HCC Highways poor road maintenance and other bodies whom one never sees out and about.
Profile of iain jackson
Posted by:iain jackson
3 years ago
Think the fact that only the 4th resident to comment speaks volumes of HBCs' perceived attitude towards Waterlooville. Havant, Hayling Island and the other one, whatsitsname.
Although a totally different Project (apparently!), attended Building for a Better Future presentation and raised concerns with HBC since. Town Centre is 'not a welcoming place, desperate need for housing, deemed as a brownfield site, too expensive to force compulsory purchase orders on landlords or at least make them formally responsible for upkeep'
Aspirations for the future generations when environmentally, community pride where they live, etc. I totally agree with.
Agree very much with Mr. Becks' and others comments.
Profile of Grainne Rason
Posted by:Grainne Rason
4 years ago
It appears that as Havant Borough Council do not own any of Waterlooville town centre properties so it is in the hands of the landowners to do something or nothing with the buildings. Could the council make a compulsory purchase order on any of the empty properties? It could show other owners that the council means to bring about change. My suggestion for every part of the borough is to find an identity for that area so it becomes a reason to go there and not just any town UK. It is the unique and different that will draw people to an area.
Profile of David Kenneth Beck
Posted by:David Kenneth Beck
4 years ago
@Grainne Rason As far as I understand it LPAs have the powers to force owners to 'sort out' their properties, as happened to a property near Highfield Parade shops recently. Waterlooville's identity was compromised by the shops below the town and planners and others failed to see this as an example of unintended consequences in planning and many aspects of life. These retail outlets have no style or architectural merit and there was/is no proper environment/soft landscaping with them. Useful though they are they split the town apart and an added attraction, if that is the right word, is free parking.
Profile of Sue Doxat
Posted by:Sue Doxat
4 years ago
Future plans should avoid the hard concrete and paved surfaces as much as possible, esp the brick walled, plastic and concreted gardens. Car free zones, solar or green rooves, living walls and trees for shade. Public drinking water fountains will save plastic drink bottles and help to improve hand hygiene, important as temperatures rise. More toilets needed for children and elderly etc Shaded seating and trees, green walls.
Profile of Nick Rogers
Posted by:Nick Rogers
4 years ago
Thank you for your detailed feedback David, it's much appreciated and lots to consider here. A couple of points of clarification:
Point 1 - what do you think should be done in Waterlooville Town Centre? Both in terms of short-term interventions (e.g. hoardings on empty shops, removal of graffiti etc.) and longer-term aspirations?
Point 5 - could you elaborate further on this?
Point 8 - what do you mean when you refer to infrastructure?
Profile of David Kenneth Beck
Posted by:David Kenneth Beck
4 years ago
Point 1. I'd hope that any current landlords could be persuaded to take some responsibility for their properties and improve their state and/or decide on what developments they should consider. Rear access areas are very untidy with rubbish etc. Graffiti wherever it is should be removed quickly. Rear access areas are very untidy with rubbish etc. There have been plans for apartments and car park for some time but no progress. Waterlooville centre has 'run down' partly as a result of the retail development below the town.
Point 5 relates to recent planning issues with work at Billett Avenue and the apparent lack of any one body with oversight. I leave that for you to liaise with planning.
Point 8 Infrastructure is roads, sewers, water supply, rain runoff and power etc I'd suggest that a lot of the sewers and water supplies are overloaded.
Profile of Nick Rogers
Posted by:Nick Rogers
4 years ago
@David Kenneth Beck Thank you for clarifying.
Profile of David Kenneth Beck
Posted by:David Kenneth Beck
4 years ago
@Nick Rogers I was in Waterlooville this morning, market day, and I wondered if the old Waitrose shop (no idea if it is owned by John Lewis) could be converted to small shops, artisan, market style outlets etc in a similar fashion to that in Petersfield and also Bosham, both see very popular. It is a two-story building with rear access.
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