Areas of concern & project ideas
For too long we have been without Christmas /festive season lights on Hamlet Court Road but a new low voltage rope light scheme agreed in principle by the Council (subject to formal consent) has begun Crowd funding is now underway so that
we can all contribute to make
this happen. Please visit
www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Light-Up-Hamlet-Court-Road
Street Cleanliness
There is a particular problem with waste collections and street cleaning. We are in touch with the Council about this and the problems coming from unco-ordinated collection and street cleaning, commercially contracted services and planning decisions. At present there are Council plans to move to fortnightly domestic collections but this has been deferred with
the recent local elections.
Planters
Well planted planters cheer us all
up and we are working to establish ownership and responsibility for the planters to help establish ongoing and lasting maintenance.
Street Safety
This has been recognised as the number one issue of concern and the Working Group has undertaken to maintain regular contact and dialogue with the Community
Support Police Officers.
Improved signage is one of the strong ideas to come out of the Task Force meetings, whether this be directional signage for the road generally and car parking or promotional signage.
This is under consideration with
the intention of a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding
bid in due course.
Market
One big transformational idea is to introduce a new destination market to lower Hamlet Court Road, perhaps on a monthly basis. This could easily occupy the wider section of Hamlet Court Road where the ‘In Harmony’ event has already proved the concept of road closure. A market that includes farmers food and flea/vintage/antique could be very attractive and complement the road.
Shop Front Regeneration
Look up and the fantastic buildings of upper Hamlet Court Road (south of London Road) reveal themselves. But at shop level there is a general mismatch of shop fronts.
Numerous schemes across the country have seen carefully designed replacement frontages in action zone areas that have transformed their neighbourhoods.
Parking
Parking is always a difficult and contentious issue but it is generally agreed that we need to maintain the free, two hour parking in the road and improve the provision as best as possible. One idea of extending the chevron parking outside Café O Portugues up the wide section of Hamlet Court Road towards Ditton Court Road has been put to the Council.