Agenda item

Councillor Jim Snee, Ward Member for the Gainsborough North Ward, submitted the following question to the Chairman of the Prosperous Communities Committee: -

 

“Throughout the West Lindsey area decaying, derelict, run down Grade 2 Listed buildings are a blot on their immediate environment.  They are eyesores, frequently in central locations, which do no favours for the local economy.  The negative vibes extruding from such buildings (like the former Lea Road School in Gainsborough and the HSBC bank in Market Rasen to name just two) create a level of despondency amongst locals and visitors, causing them to hurry past and move on - taking their patronage elsewhere.  The results are areas of decline, which are not conversant with the WLDC and LCC objective of promoting a ‘visitor economy’, as expressed in the Central Lincolnshire Plan and other officially approved documents.

 

The physical state of these buildings is usually one of decay and disrepair.  They become magnets for the adventurous and inquisitive minds of young people, and also act as ‘safe havens’ for the vulnerable of today’s modern society.  They are a clear health and safety risk, which can not be tolerated by the Council and residents of the district.   It is surely a major blessing that the exceptional winds and rainfall of the recent storms, Ciara and Dennis, did not create significant damage to the buildings, infrastructure or more importantly members of the public.

 

Despite the obvious negative effect these buildings have on our communities there appears to be  no district wide policies, development plans or financial grant schemes to address the problems created by them.

 

What is being done to address this lack of policies, on restoring declining listed buildings, and what progress is envisaged to ensure an acceptable, high standard for all  communities within the district of West Lindsey?

 

Councillors andresidents need to be aware of these policies to be reassured that WLDC is seriously tackling the declining areas of our community, and is taking every available measure to bring about improvements. Even if they do not fit into the ‘enterprise’, economic affordable model of a balanced budget.

 

Thank you

Cllr Jim Snee”

 

The Chairman of the Prosperous Communities Committee, Councillor Owen Bierley, responded as follows: -

 

Thank you, Cllr Snee, for your most prescient question.

 

Firstly, the importance and value of listed buildings is fully recognised and their ongoing protection ensured by Section 6 of the National Planning Policy Framework, Paragraphs 184 to 188 and within Section 5 of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan, especially Policy LP25: The Historic Environment.  Neighbourhood Development Plans add further richness and understanding in this area by considering those built assets that, although they may not be listed, are nonetheless important to the community either individually or in groups.

 

Section 5.10.5 of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan states that:

 

Our positive strategy for the historic environment will be achieved through the implementation of Policy LP25 and through:

 

- the preparation and maintenance of a list of buildings and other heritage assets of local importance;

 

- safeguarding heritage assets at risk and taking steps to reduce the number of heritage assets in Central Lincolnshire on the national Heritage at Risk Register and the Lincolnshire Heritage at Risk Register;

 

- encouraging the sympathetic maintenance and restoration of listed buildings, historic shop fronts and historic parks, gardens and landscapes, based on thorough historical research. Policies LP17 Landscape, Townscape and Views, and LP27 Main Town Centre Uses- Frontages and Advertisements, will also particularly assist in the achievement of this;

 

- strengthening the distinctive character of Central Lincolnshire's settlements, through the application of high quality design and architecture that responds to this character and the setting of heritage assets.

 

West Lindsey is fortunate enough to have 25 Conservation Areas and 950 listed buildings within the district and these are all detailed on our website.  The breakdown of the listed buildings is:

 

•        1 - Grade A

•        59 - Grade I (the highest grade) 

•        79 - Grade II*

•        809 - Grade II

•        2 - Grade C

 

https://www.west-lindsey.gov.uk/my-services/planning-and-building/conservation-and-environment/listed-buildings/

 

Although 11 Market Place, Market Rasen (the former HSBC/Midland Bank building) is listed, the former Lea Road School building in Gainsborough is not, despite there being a common misconception to the contrary.

 

The Gainsborough Townscape Heritage Partnership was recently awarded £1.9 million as part of a major project to restore historic buildings and heritage assets in the town. The town centre project will specifically focus on Lord Street and the Market Place, working with owners to transform and restore 28 historic properties.

 

This funding, from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, has enabled the Council to appoint a Townscape Heritage Project Officer to support the delivery of the programme and they will commence in post at the end of March.  Further capacity in the form of a Townscape Heritage Activity Co-ordinator will be recruited shortly and they will deliver the approved ‘Activity Statement’ designed to engage a wide audience of stakeholders and partners in the benefits of Heritage Led Regeneration.

 

Conservation Areas are designated by the Council as a sign of its positive commitment to preserve and enhance the quality of the environment.  Parts of the three market towns of Caistor, Market Rasen and Gainsborough are covered by Conservation Areas.  Work is currently ongoing to finalise the recently updated Conservation Area appraisals in Gainsborough covering the Town Centre, the Britannia Works and the Riverside. The programme of works covering Conservation Area appraisals will see the team move on to an appraisal in Market Rasen this year and the development of a resourced plan to continue to work on Conservation Area Appraisals as the need arises.

 

Members will be aware that our recently adopted Corporate Plan 2019-2023 also includes a specific commitment to this end.  This is reflected in the ‘Our Place’ section of the Executive Business Plan before Members for formal approval this evening and for which I trust they will affirm their support.

 

Finally, the Leisure, Culture, Events and Tourism Working Group are presently engaged in the production of a new Visitor Economy Strategy for West Lindsey.  This document is included in the Forward Plan for consideration by the Prosperous Communities Committee in May.

 

Thank you again for your question”

 

Councillor Matt Boles, Ward Member for the Gainsborough North Ward, submitted the following question to the Chairman of the Prosperous Communities Committee: -

 

“The return of parking to Gainsborough Town Centre has long been supported by local traders, residents, the Town Council, LCC Councillors & Officers and the majority of Gainsborough’s WLDC members.

 

Please could you clarify WLDC’s position on the subject, does the authority support the re-introduction of Town Centre parking or is it opposed to the proposal?

 

Many Thanks

Cllr Matt Boles”

 

 

The Chairman of the Prosperous Communities Committee, Councillor Owen Bierley, responded as follows: -

 

“Thank you for your question Cllr Boles

 

The facts in response are that Lincolnshire County Council owns the town centre and when similar questions have been posed to them previously they have informed us that this proposal would be both complex and very costly.

This is in part due to having to re-design the town centre area including taking up the current paving to install raised kerbs in all pedestrian routes to comply with legislation regarding pedestrian and vehicular segregation.

 

Other points to note when considering supporting the possibility of parking in the town centre are;

•        Ensuring that vehicles are driven at a safe speed in such a highly pedestrianised area is problematic to control

•        Carelessly parked cars can obstruct pedestrian routes and reduce the visibility of other drivers and pedestrians

•        Over parking and site congestion will result in dangerous manoeuvres and the blocking of pedestrian routes.

•        In the interest of public safety a car park in the centre of the town would also require segregation by barriers due to the nature of the proposed area. 

Following the acquisition of the old Lidl store with car park and the increase of spaces in both Bridge Street and Roseway car parks capacity has been added within Gainsborough.  Analysis shows that 165 additional car parking spaces have been created, representing an increase of almost 50% since September 2017, which could also be seen to reduce any need for Market Place parking. 

 

With the addition of the cinema planned for 2020/21 this will positively contribute to footfall in the town, especially given the inclusion of the 50 car parking spaces proposed to the rear of the development.  This will greatly help add to capacity within the town.

 

Thank you again for the question.”

 

Having heard the response, Councillor Boles requested and was granted the opportunity to ask a supplementary question.

 

Councillor Boles disputed the information he had heard in response, stating that he attended the Gainsborough Transport Strategy Board at which both Officers from the District and County Council attended and he was of the belief the County Council would support such a proposal but it was West Lindsey Officers who were less supportive.  He believed it would be conducive for all parties to be sat around one table, including Councillor Bierley and therefore requested that Councillor Bierley be invited to the next such meeting.

 

In response, Councillor Bierley indicated he was happy to attend such a meeting and would find it useful.