RAYNES PARK URBAN DESIGN WORKSHOP No 2 took place on 13 January 2000

Present:
Roger Casale MP
Ian Bremner - London Borough of Merton Planning
Chris Abell RIBA
Marcus Beale RIBA
John Merivale MLI
Nick Smith
and 65 local resident experts.


Following a walk round Raynes Park we split into four workshop groups, looking at different aspects of the town centre. Below are our recommendations:


The station
The levels of the two stations and their connecting stairs and arches are at various heights - offers opportunities for some imaginative new routes.

Use of archways could be better: for example:

The Skew Arch - use this quiet well lit public pedestrian space - fill with activity - perhaps a street market.

The Centre arch - protect pedestrian walkway from road - consider differential lighting, different for pedestrians and vehicles.

The Cattle Arch - celebrate its history as an agricultural survival. Consider exquisite lighting and good signage to promote well mannered combined use, allow for surge of pedestrians at peak times.

Embankments and railings:
tidy up and manage competently - look for development/garden opportunities.

The land in between the lines - treat this as a wildlife reserve: create views by cutting portholes into highest pedestrian bridge.

Access for people with disabilities: gate management to minimise stair journeys.

Recycling.

In the area north of the tracks: consider
- relocated bins and rationalise number of sites
- increase quality of site
- provide bin for plastic recycling (as carrier bags currently used to
transport bottles are left to litter the site
Local Authority might enforce rules of commercial use

Billboards: Agreed that billboards are out of scale with Raynes Park
- Recommend potential new uses for sites - redevelopment / banks of shrubs
LA might restrict permitted use

Fencing: Forming boundary to railway embankment - recommend replace with consistent design of railing
Improve planting of embankment (consider sponsorship) Commerce: Improve variety through Planning Control.
- Recommend consideration of new sites to attract new possibilities
Agreed that existing single storey development should be encouraged to expand to two storey to attract a different range of tenants

Pavements and Parking:
Improve amount of half/two hour restricted parking at the expense of over wide pavements. This will allow generate more commercial success to small businesses.

Pedestrian Crossings:
- Routes to be considered i.e. Worple Road (Raynes Park Tavern Corner) to RP
Station.
- Recommend reconsideration on completion of SWELTRAC works
Ensure Thames Water complete contractual obligations to finish work

Consolidate Town Centre:
Encourage relocation of Raynes Park Library to north area i.e. site of
existing Co-op considered by group to be ideal.

Railway
• Need for main traffic route to A3 & Kingston

Strategic Areas / Opportunities
• Car Park in Thames Water ownership
• Station including vertically above, between the lines, tunnels beneath the tracks
• Rainbow Industrial Estate.


Possible Strategies
• Partial exclusion / reduction of car traffic
• Access for disabled
• Need for focal point
• Civic Facilities library etc
• Control of parking e.g. limiting time for commuters
The meeting took place at the Lantern, Raynes Park.

Facilitators:
Public Green Spaces: Nick Smith
The high street : Chris Abell
The station: Marcus Beale
Looking at radical change: John Merivale

LBMerton gave an update regarding Raynes Park library land disposal. Ian Bremner author of the RP library planning brief was present as facilitator, and a group addressed these issues at the start of the meeting.