WEST BLACKHALL STREET PUBLIC REALM + TOWN CENTRE CONNECTIONS Public Exhibition 28 th June 2018
Welcome Introduction Design Your Involvement Thank you for coming Engagement We would like to gather to this public This is the first of two as much information engagement, your input consultations. from you as possible is sought to help to about what you think of deliver high quality Event 1 the concepts and ideas public realm Exploring Ideas & presented and what improvements to West Reviewing Options you see as the Blackhall Street. 28th June 2018 challenges and issues facing West Blackhall Event 2 Street & the Greenock Presenting Proposals Town Centre. Late summer 2018 We welcome all comment and observations and ask that you write your thoughts on post-it notes or comment forms.
The Greenock Town Centre Masterplan, developed in 2015 / 2016 through an inclusive Charrette process, identified a key public realm project considered as the priority for Town Centre regeneration: West Blackhall Street Public Realm Improvements to the quality of environment in West Blackhall Street Better connections to the town centre West Blackhall Street sits north of the Oak Mall and needs to see investment and better town centre connectivity, to attract a potential market of cruise visitors & crew as well as consolidate and support it s role as a key retail & residential street and emerging night-time quarter. Objectives Ocean Terminal will continue to deliver a major tourism gateway to Inverclyde, with over 100+ liners expected to bring over 100,000 international visitors to the Waterfront at Greenock each year. The West Blackhall Street project seeks to develop attractive, accessible and convenient routes, connecting Greenockians, tourists, cruise visitors & crew to the retail offering, but importantly to wider town centre locations, encouraging full access to retail and leisure opportunities, to boost the town s economy. Project funding has been secured and Riverside Inverclyde, on behalf of Inverclyde Council, have appointed a Design Team to develop proposals in conjunction with a steering group including members of the Greenock Town Centre Regeneration Forum. Design development will progress over summer/ autumn months. If support is successfully secured works could commence in 2019.
Charrette A charrette is an intensive consultation that engages local people in the design of their community. In 2016 Riverside Inverclyde & Inverclyde Council promoted events in Greenock with the aim to involve local residents, businesses and stakeholders in planning the future of the town centre. The process identified key projects: Increased distinctiveness of West Blackhall Street Significant improvements to connections between the town centre and the waterfront.
Charrette West Blackhall Street & Greenock Town Centre Connections Public Realm Design Project
Town Centre Connections Project 1 McLean Museum Project 2 Public Realm Routes Improved surfacing, crossing points, signage, seating, public realm enhancements to create legible, safe, & appealing route to the town centre
Vision West Blackhall Street becomes: A Vibrant Street Supporting local retail & food & drink business by CONNECTING THE TOWN enhancing accessibility & appeal as a place to spend time. A Distinctive Street Conserving & enhancing traditional street qualities & building heritage links with Conservation Area, Art Gallery & Library An Attractive Thoroughfare Promoting active travel through improvements to pedestrian & cycle access encouraging footfall & use as a safe & attractive route A Residential Street Improving street quality, safety, amenity & appeal as a place to live A Street with a New Purpose Enhanced to attract new visitors by being well connected to Town Centre and promoted as a Night-time Quarter
A Vibrant Street Supporting local retail & food & drink business by enhancing accessibility & appeal as a place to spend time. Key Qualities Place a sticky dot against points that are important to you A street busy with people, events and activity attracting more footfall and longer visits Flexibility/ ability to accommodate events/ changing uses More use of the outdoor environment Better quality setting for shops and businesses Any Others Do you have any other ideas? Actions Street dressing infrastructure opportunity for quick & easy use of banners/ festive lighting/ other to promote special events & activities Opportunities for temporary traffic closures to create space for wall to wall events Wider pavements for more licenced outdoor eating & drinking Access for loading and convenient parking supporting businesses Any Others Do you have any other ideas?
An Attractive Thoroughfare Promoting active travel through improvements to pedestrian & cycle access encouraging footfall & use as a safe & attractive route Key Qualities Place a sticky dot against points that are important to you Wide and well connected pedestrian areas Safe, integrated & well connected cycle routes Places to sit and places to securely park bicycles Low traffic speeds and ease of pedestrian crossing A clean, cared for safe & secure environment Any others Do you have any other ideas? Actions A 20mph zone Long lasting & easy to maintain quality surface materials Quality wayfinding signage (heritage/ wayfinding/ cycle network) Quality lighting scheme (street/ building & amenity) Street furniture in attractive locations A tree-lined route to improve air quality & microclimate Any others Do you have any other ideas?
A Residential Street Improving street quality, safety, amenity & appeal as a place to live Key Qualities Place a sticky dot against points that are important to you A safe & appealing street environment Increased opportunity to spend time outdoors in an attractive space A clean and well cared for space Good accessibility and convenience Any others Do you have any other ideas? Actions Reduced traffic numbers and speed Investment in street quality Better outlook, microclimate and air quality Access to evening parking Improved lighting and good level of natural surveillance Any others Do you have any other ideas?
A Distinctive Street Conserving & enhancing traditional street qualities & building heritage links with Conservation Area, Art Gallery & Library Key Qualities Place a sticky dot against points that are important to you Retain key characteristic of the historic street environment Reinstate original linear street geometry (no crossovers) Ensure consistent quality along full length Any others Do you have any other ideas? Actions A setted road surface along full length of road, if funding allows Remove road crossover junctions Improved interpretative and wayfinding signage to connect to the McLean Museum Access to evening parking Extend improvements along Jamaica Street to enhance McLean Museum / conservation area connection. Any others Do you have any other ideas?
A Street with New Purpose Enhanced to attract new visitors, well connected to Town Centre and promoted as a Night-time Quarter Key Qualities What are we seeking to achieve: Place a sticky dot against points that are important to you New street environment promoting West Blackhall Street as a quality Town Centre destination CONNECTING THE TOWN New identity investment securing new business opportunities A small scale events venue a place for new street activities Any others Do you have any other ideas? Actions What do we need to provide: Investment in quality design & materials building street character & appeal Robust materials, layout & construction providing durable fit for multi-purpose use activities Flexibility - to support future uses not yet identified ( addressing furniture positioning/ kerb heights/ lighting design and seasonal operation) Any others Do you have any other ideas?
Existing One-Way System West Blackhall Street is organised as a one-way traffic system West Blackhall Street is broken in 3 & cannot be used as a thoroughfare Unintuitive one way loop West Burn St - Nicolson St (west)- Jamaica St - Argyle Street one way loop Disconnected Laird St - Nicolson St (east) loop
Parking On street parking is provided to each side of West Blackhall street & surrounding streets 176 parking spaces on West Blackhall Street & surrounding streets 7 on-street loading bays 8 car parks within 5minute (400m) walking distance To achieve meaningful change some loss of parking might be necessary
Design Scenarios A pedestrianised Through traffic Alternating Shared surface section with limited parking & plazas parking & access widened footway for loading
Design Scenarios Benefits: Maximises accessible space Pedestrianised sections can operate with flexibility (occasionally / seasonally / permanently) Tree planting Implications: Loss of area parking: 45% Reduction to natural surveillance when footfall is low Less clarity of zones for vulnerable users (children, those with visibility impairment)
Design Scenarios Benefits: Access for loading Disabled parking Wider pavements Space for on street furniture Tree planting Implications: Loss of parking area: 35% Significant level of footfall required to animate street Significant reconstruction required
Design Scenarios Benefits: Continuous one way access for vehicles Disabled parking On street parking Wider pavements (where parking is reduced) Access & space for loading Space for on street furniture Tree planting Implications: Loss of area parking: 22% Significant reconstruction
Design Scenarios Benefits: Continuous one way access for vehicles Disabled parking On street parking Wall to wall shared surface plazas with wide pavements Access & space for loading Space for on street furniture Tree planting Implications: Loss of parking: 20% Reconstruction may be necessary Pavement widths remain unchanged where parking retained
Design Scenarios West Blackhall Street & Greenock Town Centre Connections Public Realm Design Project
Design Scenarios West Blackhall Street & Greenock Town Centre Connections Public Realm Design Project
We welcome all views and will be sharing options and outline ideas developed from the concepts at Event 2 in late summer 2018. Next Steps Thank you for attending and we look forward to seeing you again. Website: www.riversideinverclyde.com Email: info@riversideinverclyde.com or mail@ironsidefarrar.com With the subject West Blackhall Street