Lower Pollet framework ‘exciting and considered’

AFTER meeting on the brow of the hill on which sits the Lower Pollet, St Peter Port constable Zoe Lihou was quick to herald the draft development framework as a promise of ‘a better, healthier community experience’ for everyone coming into Town.

We toured the Lower Pollet, La Plaiderie, Le Truchot and taxi rank areas to discuss how the DDF could look to improve them.

She said the proposals had recommended a shift in attitude from traffic-dominated environments to a calmer, more people-centred approach.

In the DDF, planners acknowledged that the existing public open spaces within St Peter Port ‘are limited and… tend to feel dominated by traffic or are currently used as car parks’.

The report notes that the North Plantation is one of the few areas of public open space where people can sit among greenery.

Mrs Lihou welcomed the framework suggestions to open the North Plantation to more pedestrianised space.

‘The framework document is really exciting and considered. It’s full of excellent ideas to regenerate the Lower Pollet area.

‘We need this kind of development to truly invite all kinds of people and activities day and night.’

Strolling around the North Plantation, Mrs Lihou acknowledged the night-time economy was integral but pointed out that the area was, at times, also filthy and not inviting.

‘It if looks like a back alley, people will treat it like a back alley.’

Mrs Lihou recognised that both the day and night-time economies needed to be considered in the DDF and believed the way to counter any antisocial activity was a combination of ‘earning respect – and having a big stick’.

‘We need more CCTV for sure and if we build a welcoming, attractive environment, we might engender more respect and people will appreciate the expertise, effort and expense the States has gone to to beautify the area.’

Walking up to the Plaiderie, Mrs Lihou said the courtyard should host fewer parking spaces, as the DDF advised.

‘While fewer cars would be welcome, a plan for those cars needs to be made,’ she said.

‘Parking has to be a consideration, however unpopular that idea might be. Not everyone is going to want to go on bicycles.

‘I had heard that the car park at Charles Frossard House was built to withstand multi-storeys. It could be just the answer, with shuttle buses regularly bringing people into Town.’

Turning into Plaiderie arcade, Mrs Lihou described the area as a ‘haven for fag butts and chewing gum’.

‘It is something that concerns the douzaine and the parish offices. If we could find a way to keep it clean, it becomes the pedestrian gateway to the new courtyard area.’

Mrs Lihou thought it was time Town had a more up-to-date identity.

‘We could give more consideration to the GY1 theme we have adopted for Town and play this out in the street furniture and art, the signage and green areas. We can’t rely on Victor Hugo forever.’

Rounding into Le Truchot, Mrs Lihou acknowledged that this was the road that made some areas of Town accessible.

‘It is not the most attractive of streets but if it gives people accessibility to other parts of Town, that’s important.’

Heading into the taxi rank by the roundabout, Mrs Lihou said she was in favour of the idea to move the rank to North Beach.

‘If the idea of moving the rank goes through, then it is feasible for the car parking spaces to be removed in La Plaiderie and the taxi rank could become the pedestrian haven the DDF appears to suggest it should be.’

As with all the regeneration areas, the DDF presents two different schemes – one of low intervention in the current landscape and one high.

The low approach includes retaining the taxi rank function and providing additional taxi spaces in peak hours along Le Truchot, but increasing the amount of pedestrian space.

The high intervention approach is a car-free area including sheltered seating, new areas of greenery including integrated rain gardens and new pedestrian zones around seating and landscaping.

Mrs Lihou favours the high intervention suggestion – pedestrianising the whole area with native plants with biodiversity features, seating areas, open space areas for events, cycle racks and street art and sculptures.

‘A sunken mini amphitheatre at the taxi rank would be a great place for buskers and events and, when the building at the bottom of the Lower Pollet is let, it will be a vibrant area.’

Mrs Lihou was delighted that the framework showed a ‘cohesive, well-thought-out idea’ for the whole of the regeneration areas rather than a ‘piecemeal plan’.

However, she remained sceptical about funding for the project.

‘I do wonder if everyone has gone to a load of time and effort to build this framework just for it to become a political distraction with only a handful of the ideas in the document ever getting finished.

‘The whole plan needs future-proofing for the next 20 to 30 years. We cannot apply age-old laws and customs in a world that has moved on.

‘If we really want to use this as an opportunity to attract people, we need to commit to making it somewhere people want to come and spend time.

‘I fear this vision may end up with the States shuffling the deckchairs on the Titanic.’

The DDF is on display at the St Peter Port parish office in Lefebvre Street until the close of the consultation period on 15 June when amendments will be made. The final development framework will then be put forward to Environment & Infrastructure for approval.

Draft Development Framework wish list:

Biodiversity, enhanced pedestrian public spaces, event venues, street art, fewer car parking facilities, more Town living and beautification of Town’s three main gateways are top of the Development and Planning Authority’s wish list in its Draft Development Framework for the St Peter Port regeneration area. The DPA opened the consultation period for the framework earlier this month and is seeking views from members of the public.

The three regeneration areas are the Lower Pollet, South Esplanade and Mignot Plateau, and Mansell Street/Le Bordage. Following consultation, the comments received, together with the final draft Development Framework, will be considered by the DPA.

• Information about the DDF and how to submit comments can be found at https://gov.gg/developmentframeworks.