The Broadway - pluses and minuses!

An enhancement scheme for The Broadway was approved in 1999 but, like the High Road scheme, was delayed because funding was not available. The Broadway was starting to look down-at-heel, and LRA District Councillors have consistently pressed for the scheme to move forward. Finally in 2008 work did start, which has meant that the road has had to be wholly or partly closed to traffic for long periods this year, causing significant problems for shoppers and traders.

There are also plans for a further major programme of improvements and rebuilding, but these are some years off, and may not happen at all. LRA organised a local meeting so that residents could have their say on the plans.

The original plan: due to an error in the plans supplied by National Grid Gas, the District Council had to abandon the original plan to remove the central reservation and to make The Broadway a one-way single-lane road.

The revised plan includes a central pedestrian area and two-way traffic flow. The scheme will include improving the road and pavement surfaces to a high standard, and providing high-quality street furniture. The aim is to slow down the through traffic and to provide as much parking as possible (but there will be less parking, and it will be charged for).

The short-stay parking spaces will cost the same as other local car parks. There will be residents' parking passes for those living above the shops and contract parking for businesses. The designers have consulted disability groups to ensure the enhancement effectively caters for their needs.

The changes should stop commuters from using these parking areas, but they may then move into nearby residential streets - particularly in the Colson Road area. To support residents, LRA Councillors have insisted that the District and County Councils carry out a review to deal with any problems that may occur and that they carry out a parking review on roads close to the station and Broadway, as many residents are already suffering from inconsiderate commuter parking. The Council has dragged its feet on starting consultations with residents, but we hope these will start by September 2009.

At the District Council meeting of 3 September 2009, LRA Cllr Ken Angold-Stephens led a "call-in" on the Council's decision not to defer rent for the traders in The Broadway in relation to the disruption caused by the recent road-works. (A call-in is a procedure which requires a decision to be reconsidered.) Ken's arguments were persuasive, and so a 25% rebate for 8 months was approved by the subsequent full District Council meeting.
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The District Council has actually underspent on the work on The Broadway, and has now voted $100,000 to improve the CCTV facilities in the area.

Once the work on The Broadway has been completed, LRA’s Town Councillors will be looking at arranging for flower baskets to be installed on the lamp-posts, similar to those in the High Road."