Latest news with #AndrewBooton
BBC News
03-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Cheltenham Promenade resurfacing plans paused after objections
Plans to resurface a historic high street have been paused after thousands of people objected to decision to pause the project to tarmac the Promenade in Cheltenham has been hailed as a victory by the town's civic County Council chiefs had planned to take up the York flagstones and lay a strip of asphalt instead, similar to what has happened at The Strand part of High StreetThe regional authority has said the civic society will be involved in any future decision making. The historic high street was first laid in 1818 during the Regency period and became a tree lined drive for has evolved into an important shopping street in the town and is used for activities like the Christmas market. In September 2024, Cheltenham MP Max Wilkinson described the temporary repairs to the Promenade as 'tarmac cowpats'. He said the county council and utility companies had used cheaper material rather than replacing the original flagstones after carrying out work. In March the county council announced it was planning to take up the flagstones and lay asphalt instead, as early as a petition signed by more than 2,000 people and a campaign by Cheltenham's Civic Society has led to the plans to be paused. Cheltenham Civic Society said it has "won the battle" but the war to save the spa town's iconic Promenade may not yet be over, said the Local Democracy Reporting chairman Andrew Booton said: "We are concerned that the solution to be arrived at will fully respect the town's heritage, its beauty and the integrity of the Central Conservation Area."Shire Hall is now looking at other options which would allow vehicle access without breaking the stones. County council leader Stephen Davies said: "If we can find an alternative we will consider that, although installation may need to be phased if it is expensive."If we can't find an alternative we have agreed to meet again. I believe this is a common sense approach."
BBC News
10-03-2025
- BBC News
Cheltenham Promenade tarmac scheme slammed by civic society
Plans to remove historic flagstones and replace them with tarmac on a historic street have been slammed by a civic County Council (GCC) and Cheltenham Borough Council (CBC) have said proposed changes to the layout of the Promenade in Cheltenham town centre are essential to enable vehicle Cheltenham Civic Society (CCS) said it is concerned the scheme is an attempt to "fix Cheltenham on the cheap" and that it will damage the town's heritage and detract from its appeal to GCC leader Stephen Davies said the scheme had been designed with Cheltenham's "vibrant market town centre" at the forefront. The councils are aiming to save money after spending about £100,000 this year alone on "tarmac cowpat" repairs and replacing broken York stone pavingThey are considering the removal of some of the York stone outside Cavendish House and replacing them with a strip of scheme would involve removing paving stones down the centre of the Promenade and replacing them with a tarmac and buff coloured strip flanked by bollards to prevent vehicles driving onto the remaining stone plans, discussed at a meeting on 4 March, could happen as soon as May according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Andrew Booton, chair of CCS, described the scheme as an impulsive response to poor maintenance. "Let's not forget, the roads were in that state because GCC had neglected them," he said."And because CBC, the supposed guardian of our public realm, took no interest in pushing GCC to address their terrible state. "Their badly-installed reinstatements keep failing due to poor workmanship." Mr Booton said the Promenade, home to numerous listed buildings, is the town's "social and emotional barometer" and must be protected."When the Prom looks sad with empty shops, the rest of the town feels it," he continued."Every time CBC and GCC's fingerprints touch our historic fabric, a little bit more of the town's heritage is compromised or disappears altogether. "We cannot trust them to do what is right. We constantly have to fight against mediocrity, laziness and apathy." Davies said he was "surprised" at the reaction from GCC leader said: "They are aware of the challenges in getting the right balance at this location."The option that we have chosen provides an attractive, hard-wearing surface that's smoother and more accessible to visitors."The materials and repairs will be easier to source, so utility companies will be able to provide an instant repair following their work, and this will also be more cost-effective in the long-term."CBC said it is committed to raising the standard of the quality of the town centre and has consistently lobbied GCC to support this.
