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From next Monday (October 26), residents in Sudbury and the surrounding villages will have the chance to view – and give their opinions on – three options aimed at revamping an unsightly part of the town centre.
The area of the town centre, which is owned by various landowners, south of St Peter’s Church and to the west of Great Eastern Road and which includes the bus station has been considered something of an eyesore for a while. Babergh District Council, which owns the bus station, has teamed up with Suffolk County Council to work with local groups and others to collect the public’s views on a number of potential options for the area.
Over the summer the two councils have been having detailed conversations with Sudbury Town Council, the Chamber of Commerce, the Sudbury Society and the Sudbury Market Town Partnership as well as local landowners and the bus companies to understand what they want to see happening to the site.
As a result of these discussions, three options (see below for more details) are being put forward for the public to consider.
People will be able to view and give their opinions on each of the options at special manned exhibitions in the town. These are:
October 29th (10am to 6pm) at St. Peter’s Church
October 31st (10am to 6pm) at Sudbury Town Hall
November 14th (10am to 6pm) at Sudbury Town Hall
November 27th (6pm to 9pm) at St. Peter’s Church
Another, unmanned, exhibition will be located through part of the period of consultation (October 26th to December 4th) firstly at the Sudbury Tourist Information Centre and then at other locations, including at Borehamgate near to the bus station.
A special Hamilton Road Quarter website has also be set up at www.onesuffolk.co.uk/hamiltonroadquarter where residents can give their views on the three options throughout the consultation period
According to Sandra Scott, Babergh’s Hamilton Road Quarter Project Leader, “if a prosperous and attractive Sudbury town centre is important to you – please come and see what the future may hold – and have your say!”
Once the public have made their comments and their preferences analysed, a report will be prepared with recommendations in the early part of 2010. ENDS
Notes to Editors
The three options referred to are:
Option 1 - Relocation of the bus station eastwards from its current location with vehicular access via both Bank Terrace and Great Eastern Road as at present. A number of two and/or three-storey mixed-use (retail/residential/leisure) buildings to be constructed south and west of the new bus station up to the boundaries with Francis Road and Bank Terrace.
Option 2 - Removal of the bus station from the site to either another location or provision of bus stops elsewhere around the town (and a layover for bus to wait away from the site). Bus laybys located either side of Great Eastern Road, which could have a retail frontage. The current bus station site would be partly pedestrianised with two and/or three-storey mixed-use (retail/residential/leisure) buildings to be constructed on the entire site.
Option 3 - Relocation of the bus station to the south-east corner of the site with vehicular access in and out via Great Eastern Road. The existing bus station site
would become partly pedestrianised and could attract outlets relating to the evening economy (eg restaurants) located alongside Borehamgate. Two and/or three-storey mixed-use (retail/residential/leisure) buildings to be constructed on the remainder of the site.
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