In our last Wimbledon Town Centre workshop in April 2000, public space was identified as an important issue. Tonight we explore some of these issues in more depth, and look at three local public space developments, The Broadway Piazza, St. Mark's Place, and the Station Redevelopment.

The town centre is an urban environment - one of its features is a great deal of noise generated by traffic. Try having a conversation at the bottom of Wimbledon Hill Road. It's virtually impossible - one has to stand next to the person and shout. Not conducive to good citizenship. The nineteenth century city was noisy, horses hooves and wheels on cobbles, but the modern city is something else.

One’s personal space shrinks in a noisy environment. If we consider the invisible bubble of private space that surrounds us in a tube train, we can be a few inches from someone and yet 'not notice' them. If two people were in such close proximity in the middle of the countryside, it would be inconceivable that they would fail to acknowledge each other. And yet the extent of one's personal space, the limit of our horizon, is the very stuff out of which humane civic spaces are made. This enlargement of one's personal space, the ability to notice things, to engage, to greet each other, makes public space enjoyable, interesting, and safe.

The importance of public space - general issues.

Everyone recognises that public space is important. Money exists now to spend on it. It is a question of connecting the money to the local expertise. The purpose of workshops like this is to enable this to happen.

The town centre is perceived as too dirty, too much traffic, graffiti not a pleasant place to be. Newer buildings are felt to be too big, the Broadway is 'becoming a cavern'. Wimbledon has already been developed once [1880s] - 2/3/4 storey and is being redeveloped now as 4/5/6 storey. About half, the professionals, agreed that one should build higher near transport centres. The main reason residents don't like higher density is concern about increased traffic.

Works of art should be incorporated in design, but not as a fig leaf to compensate for poor development. Public space created out of re-development is welcomed. Two thirds thought one could build higher if one created public space as part of the development.

St. Mark's Place

St. Mark's back route from Alexandra Road to Compton Road is used by many people, because it is quiet, and a short cut - but people use it by day, not at night. What makes it safer at night? Better lighting, wider passages, more overlooking.

Mixed use development: shops, offices, residential above, creates twenty four hour activity. Another aspect of safety is maintenance of the finishes, cleaning and so on.

Passages should be as wide as possible, not narrow, more generous less clutter. All agreed clutter is a problem - too much street furniture, boxes, and so on, apparently sited with little thought or care. However there is a real need for bicycle stands - we are trying to use our cars less. And there is nowhere to sit in Wimbledon and eat a sandwich at lunchtime. The Galustian Garden is not yet open at lunch-times - the church wants to supervise use - but it is expected that it will be opened in future. Just being able to see into the garden is a big improvement.

Park keepers, caretakers, actual people supervising space is the best way to keep them safe, but budgets have been cut over the last twenty years. Is there some way of reversing this with voluntary involvement?

Although Merton has a number of public opens spaces they tend to be at the back of buildings. We have few examples of public open space at the front of buildings, these should be encouraged.

The P3 Broadway Piazza.

This is an example of a new public space carved out of a commercial development. The P3 piazza is owned by the developer: managed by the developer. Chairs and tables from Safeway and the ground floor unit opposite may spill out over space to a limited extent. Events are held there, co-ordinated by Ian Cramp, Town Centre manager. There have been five schools performances in the space in the last ten days. If you have ideas for a performance or event, contact Ian Cramp. [Click here to e-mail Ian Cramp]

A question was raised about the siting of the bus station in the P3 development and the use of the little lay by in Hartfield Road. This is intended as a setting down/pick up point for buses but is not yet used by the bus operator - the facility is there for the future.

Some often overlooked principles of sustainable design include: making sure that the choices we make preserve the choices of future generations, and understanding the limits of design - one cannot force people to use space in a particular way.

The earlier drawings of the P3 piazza show trees - will these be incorporated? Probably, yes. The artist Tess Jaray (who designed the space about four years ago) will come and inspect it in November/December when the buildings are complete, and has indicated that she is willing to meet with the UDTF to discuss ideas for seating, furniture and so on. She designed some purpose designed furniture which could be incorporated. All feel it is important to site furniture carefully so that the space remains flexible in use.

Car management. The 20 m.p.h. speed limit is not always observed - however it is quite difficult to go faster than this because of the humps. In USA there are examples where speed restrictions are obeyed without humps and physical barriers. It's a question of the local culture - is it acceptable to break traffic regulations? - enforcement works, but there is little enforcement.

A busy shopping centre will always require servicing - it is impossible to banish traffic entirely from the town centre.

Barcelona new town is an example of high density and good quality of living. Part of its success stems from science: developing to the edge of the urban block and creating a peaceful space in between, away from traffic, with squares at intersections formed by bevels at the corners.

There should be more bus priority through the centre. Traffic reduction measures such as the walking bus scheme are welcomed.

Social behaviour - do we encourage or coerce good behaviour?

Wimbledon Station Precinct.

What progress has there been on this since the plans were first published in 2000? Railtrack indicated that this scheme is not top of their priority list, and they have been having difficulties over the past two years. MBA have tried to interest development professionals but there has been no great enthusiasm. Because the site is owned by Railtrack there is not much Merton can do to progress the project. It was always envisaged that this scheme would be for the next property boom in 2010 rather than this one.

Proposals to create a new vehicle bridge over the railway tracks are integral to the scheme, in order to make new pedestrian spaces in the town centre. The new bridge proposal would be resisted by residents in adjacent roads concerned about increases in traffic, but it is seen as essential in providing a better town centre.

The Wandle Valley regeneration corridor.

The development strategy for London includes the Wandle Valley as one of the areas for accommodating new growth - we should bear in mind that Merton falls within this area and we are expected to provide denser development in the area - it is up to us to evolve acceptable forms of sustainable urban development over the next 10 to 20 years.

Link to Wimbledon's Architecture Week Exhibition 24-27 June 2002

Car Free Day - which site do you favour?

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