MIGHTY relieved I’ve made it on to Salisbury City Council, but mighty sad that more of my fellow independents weren’t successful.
With all that’s been going on electorally – not least the costly shambles over the choice of the next Police & Crime Commissioner - the deadline for commenting on the plans for Salisbury’s proposed River Park glided quietly under the bridge today, and I have to admit that I forgot.
I’m sure a lot of other people will have done so, too. Not, however, the doughty Salisbury Area Greenspace Partnership and our ever-vigilant environmental campaigners Pam Rouquette and Margaret Willmot, to all of whom we residents owe a debt of gratitude.
While they and I are supportive of the scheme in principle, I’ve been struck by some of their concerns.
The first is what might become a missed opportunity to use the Boathouse pub – lease currently up for sale, freehold owned by Wiltshire Council – as a welcome centre and cafe for visitors arriving at the coach park and as an information centre on the river and its ecology.
There appears to be no money set aside to cover the £275,000 purchase price quoted by the agents Savills although the council says it “recognises the potential” of the site and is “exploring its options”.
This rundown but charming building is such a crucial part of the riverside scene that surely something more than the “exploration of options” is required at this stage? Fingers crossed.
There are also misgivings about a proposal to replace the Millstream Approach road bridge with one four metres wider, capable of taking two lanes of traffic, in an area where much has been made of the intention to give priority to pedestrians and cyclists using the enhanced riverside path. No explanation of the need for this widening has been offered.
There’s much more to learn from these thoughtful comments, and if you’re interested, it’s planning application no. PL/2021/03601 on the Wiltshire website.
The city council, while also supportive of the project, has asked to be involved in all aspects of its design and delivery.
Here’s one city councillor who will be taking a keener - and much better informed - interest from now on.
I seem to recall that the coach park had been sold off to the Central car park developer when an out of touch officer included it in the plans but this may have changed?
ReplyDeleteI would really love to rejuvenate the boathouse and get punting going along the Avon and boat hire like there used to be. But I’ve had a business in Salisbury and I don’t see any incentives to come back. Where’s the funding? Incentives? Help?
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