NEWS RELEASES
Visions 2004 Exhibition
21st January 2004
PLANS for a possible new look to three parts of Horsham town centre will be on public display from 26 January.
The Visions 2004 exhibition will display plans and ideas for three significant projects expected to progress during 2004 in Horsham town: the TA Centre in Denne Road, Horsham Town Hall and the Albion Way subway.
It’s taking place in Horsham Museum in the Causeway from 26 January until 7 February and is open Monday to Saturday from 10am - 5pm each day.
Comments forms will be available for those wanting to give their views.
Running alongside it will be the 'Why, What, When: Horsham changed ' exhibition about the town’s history.
Another exhibition will then follow, again taking place in the Museum. Called ‘Tales from the Sundial,’ it will run from 25 February to 17 April and will explore some of the historical stories told in the new sundial sculpture now in place at the Forum, Blackhorse Way.
Ends
Note to editors
Details of the possible new look to three parts of Horsham are as follows:
Medwin Walk subway/Horsham Park entrance
Horsham District Council has been looking to improve the underpass under Albion Way for several years. The redevelopment of Park Surgery provided the opportunity to improve the environment of the subway and create much more open, direct approaches.
Proposals for these improvements have been refined over the last few years following public consultation at the various ‘Visions’ exhibitions and work began on their implementation last year.
The scheme has involved the replacement of the old Park Surgery with a larger, improved building better equipped to meet patients needs and the removal of the brick wall at the end of the subway to create a new path straight through to Horsham Park. This creates a direct route straight through the subway to the park, making a safer, more pleasant environment. The ramps at both ends of the subway will remain for people with prams and pushchairs and for those in wheelchairs. It is also planned to upgrade the lighting in the subway.
The surgery and subway are due for completion in March of this year.
As building work has continued, the scheme has been further refined as a result of continued public consultation.
Originally it was planned to install escalators on the town centre side of the subway to lead straight down into the subway from Medwin Walk. In the light of public comment last year, this idea has been removed and instead the ramp and steps will be re-aligned to provide better access up to Medwin Walk. It is proposed to erect a canopy in Medwin Walk to protect the steps and ramps from the weather.
On the park side of the subway, the new footpath leads past the new surgery to join the perimeter path of the park. At this point, a new entrance is proposed set within a landscaped area with extensive planting and feature paving together with a piece of public art. The existing car park has been redesigned to accommodate this new ‘Jubilee entrance’ and to improve the landscape in this area.
Following public feedback and discussion with the operators of Shelleys night club and bowling alley, the design of this area has been amended and it has been decided that a roofed gateway may be inappropriate.
Another suggestion is that several pieces of public art may be installed at various locations within Horsham Park, making the piece at the Jubilee entrance part of a co-ordinated approach to the whole area. Southern Arts is considering meeting the costs of this idea.
Horsham Town Hall
Over the last couple of years, the Council has asked for public opinion on several different suggested uses for Horsham Town Hall in Market Square.
This followed the acquisition of the Drill Hall in Denne Road for community uses, providing the opportunity to look afresh at the longer term use of the Town Hall.
One proposal included converting the building to a restaurant. Following very strong feedback against this proposal, the Council has retained the building for public use and has subsequently been investigating how to maximise this potential.
The Council has since been challenged by the Audit Commission’s CPA findings to provide better public information facilities. Linking this idea with providing Tourist Information could support the work the Council is doing to enhance East Street’s trading situation.
Proposals were put forward last year for using the building to accommodate the tourist information centre, an information Help Point for Council services, together with offices and a public access point for transport services such as car parking. In order to achieve this, it would have been necessary to move the Registrar’s office to another location such as the Conservatory Cafe in Horsham Park, a proposal which proved unpopular.
As a result, revised proposals have been prepared which maintain the Registrar’s office in its current location, as well as alleviating certain access difficulties into the building and achieving the layout of the other proposed uses .
The new proposals include accommodation for the tourist information centre, an exhibition area, internet access points and a public information help desk. Disabled access has been improved, both to the front door with new entrance ramps and to the first floor marriage room with the installation of a wheelchair lift.
The Council has confined any changes to the ground floor which means Theatre 48 can remain in occupation of the first floor.
The Town Hall is in a good central location for these uses and the proposals will help to resolve the Registrar’s concerns over access to the offices and marriage room.
TA Centre
To secure the future of the Drill Hall and TA Centre site in Denne Road, Horsham, the District Council purchased the property three years ago.
Since that time, the Drill Hall has been refurbished to provide an alternative location for numerous theatre events and an extensive range of facilities is now available for community hire.
A rehearsal and recording studio has also been developed on the site by the Horsham District Music Alliance.
The site has provided temporary surgery facilities during the reconstruction of Park Surgery in Albion Way. The practice will shortly be moving into its new facility and the Council has been looking at the future uses of the TA centre site.
Future proposals for the site
The accompanying plan shows possible proposals for the future of the site, as displayed at last year’s Visions exhibition. They include:
* flats for homeless families
* accommodation for voluntary organisations
* affordable housing
* cadet facilities
Since that time, planning permission has been granted for the homeless accommodation and work is currently ongoing to prepare the details of the scheme with a view to starting construction in April 2004, subject to funding being available.
Other recent ideas include Horsham and Chanctonbury Primary Care Trust possibly occupying the site for office accommodation and using part of the land for an elderly persons care home for West Sussex County Council.
CONTACT: Richard Morris, Communications Manager
(01403) 215549