Parade Plans Revealed

I got a flyer through my door inviting me to attend a community consultation day on the proposed plans for the Parade area the other week because "my views count". I was pleasantly surprised. Saw some nice drawings from the architects on what we might get....

The nearest corner is going to be a 'walk-in' Medical Centre, to replace the old clinic presently behind the shops. Next door to that is a 'Community Facility' which is on two floors and on the ground floor at the end a 'Supermarket'. The Blacon Asset Management Company are to be based on a second floor - 'masters of all they survey'. The right hand side of the Parade shops (the far flank on the picture above) is to be given a face lift.

The man doing the presentation at the Open Day described the road behind the current Parade as a 'rat-run'. This is because it is not overlooked by anybody and therefore just an access road without any particular character. Good point. This road is to be removed as a 'cut through' and made into access only.

As expected the area behind the Parade is to be entirely housing except the current 'Church Way' road which is to be converted into some kind of footpaths, trees and bench areas, perhaps even an area for outdoor events and a children's play area.

We were invited to write on post-it notes what we would like in the new community centre. I and several others wrote 'community cafe'. Well, they did say 'your view counts'.