THE regeneration of Bridport's south west quadrant has been on the agenda for a decade.
It has been the subject of strategies, local plans, meetings, consultation and negotiation and even though plans have been submitted, still the talking goes on.
Two public meetings were called by St Michael's traders and Bridport Town Council before West Dorset District Council decides on the outline planning permission, probably at its May 22 meeting.
Refurbish all remaining buildings and create new vehicular and pedestrian accesses.
Architect Ken Morgan of Morgan Carey said that after years of consultations they had come up with plans they believed would create employment opportunities, refurbish existing buildings badly in need of repair, create new civic spaces, a riverside walk and a gateway to Bridport that reflected the character of the town.
But that was not what people in the packed town hall cared about.
Their concerns revolved around what they saw as the inadequate bus station that would affect sustainable tourism, the potential conflict mixing work and living spaces, the threat to existing business who would no longer be able to afford rents on the estate and lack of car parking.
Also at the meeting was West Dorset District Council's head of planning David Evans.
He said Bridport was a town of fine heritage and although the south west quadrant was still a fine heritage it was slowly decaying, a lot of the buildings were run down, some dangerous and they needed proper restoration.
Mr Morgan explained there were two ways to finance that - from business rents or money generated by new housing.
11:25am Saturday 10th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Dorset Boy, Wilds of Dorset on 1:03pm Sat 10 May 08
Only a decade! Dorchester has been waiting for a new town centre for 50 years, and we are still waitng.
Only a decade! Dorchester has been waiting for a new town centre for 50 years, and we are still waitng.
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