Formal consultation on potential improvement options in St Ives town centre is expected to take place in October.
Informal discussions have been held and last week a St Ives Town Centre Environmental Advisory Group comprising town, district and county councillors, district and town council officers and the St Ives Town Initiative met to discuss the way forward for the project.
Consensus was reached at a lively and engaging meeting on how to move forward from the current pre-formal consultation position. Several potential improvement options for the layout of the market place were presented for discussion. It was made clear that they were ‘indicative designs’ and are not final plans.
The group took on board a wide range of views from businesses and key local interest groups and having taken these into account unanimously agreed to ask Huntingdonshire District Council’s cabinet to approve moving forward with a formal consultation process at its next meeting on 4 September 2008.
This would pave the way for full and effective formal consultation and engagement with all interested parties to start in October and be completed before Christmas 2008. Works can then be planned through 2009 with the potential to start work in January 2010.
Such a timescale will allow business and public concerns as well as technical aspects all to be considered. The project could then proceed with minimum disruption to business interests and the public in January 2010.
The group were unanimous in the need to bring all parties together to create a vibrant town centre for St Ives which enhances the character of the town and meets the needs of local people and business.
Councillor Peter Bucknell, Huntingdonshire District Councils executive councillor for planning strategy said: “Nothing is yet set in stone. We look forward to receiving everyone’s comments and views and these will all be taken into account when drawing up the scheme.”
The mayor of St Ives, Councillor Ian Dobson, said: “ As well as the detailed discussions with officers and members of the district council I have engaged with the groups in the town whose views were sought as part of the pre-consultation process and also with other groups.
“ I look forward to options being taken forward for public consultation which will take fully into account the views already given by the town council and groups in the town and which will be presented and explained in detail to residents and the business community.
The town council will urge full and energetic participation by all who welcome this £1m investment of public money and who want our town to move forward while at the same time protecting the essential character of St Ives and its attraction as a flourishing and distinctive, working market town.
“The prize for all concerned will be to take forward a plan which is right for our town, for the residents of St Ives and surrounding area, for its distinctive shops and leisure and other businesses and for its attractive and busy markets.”