PROPOSALS FOR COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENTS IN PILL

 

THE FUTURE

(based on the priorities highlighted in “Pill 2012” and the assumption that the refurbishment of the Community Centre takes place as planned)

 

The total redevelopment of the whole precinct area of Baltic Place with a more aesthetically pleasing development would be the ideal way forward, and indeed plans for this were professionally provided for the Parish Council as part of the Redevelopment Committee’s work and are attached to this paper. However, it is realised that there would be some practical difficulties involved in this, notably the enforced closure for a considerable period of very important commercial concerns. What follows is an outline proposal for what might be considered to be a more achievable but still substantial partial redevelopment. The Parish Council feels strongly that the next step should be for a detailed design of this proposal to be professionally prepared, and intends to request North Somerset Council and North Somerset Housing to undertake this, or to provide a financial contribution to it being undertaken by the Parish Council.

 

  1. Pitched roof for eastern side of Precinct (NISA and Skeeles). It would be necessary for this to be undertaken while still allowing for the two commercial concerns to continue trading.
  2. Redevelopment of western side of Precinct, resulting in

a)      a separate building providing “traditional” frontage on Pill Street to match that existing on opposite side of street, with a combination of residential and commercial premises;

b)      either redevelopment or replacement of the existing building on the western side (currently housing charity shop, takeaway, hardware shop, dentist and Pill Resource Centre) to provide either single or two storey building with pitched roof for mainly commercial premises, with some residential accommodation if two storey;

c)      demolition of the existing garages;

d)      an open area between a) and b) to provide service, storage and car parking.

  1. Removal of existing flats above precinct, with residents located in new accommodation as in 2. above.

 

This would potentially provide more commercial sites than in current west side of Precinct. Taken in conjunction with the existing commercial premises (some currently empty) in Bank Place, this would allow for

a)      temporary relocation of commercial concerns while 2. above was undertaken;

b)      eventual relocation of library into the centre of the village (thus releasing sites for affordable housing) and the possible provision of a youth drop-in/cafeand emptyPossibly some commercial businesses or other concerns (e.g. library) could then relocate into the new area, thus potentially releasing some sites for affordable housing or other initiatives such as a youth drop in/cafe.

      Depending on the design of 2a) and 2b), surplus affordable housing to that required for the  

      relocation of the tenants of the existing flats above the precinct could potentially be

      provided in the new or redeveloped buildings.

 

  1. Improvements to Victoria Park. To include paved area with seats and shrubs to   

include existing Millennium Sundial.

 

N.B. If current separate plans to provide youth and play facilities are not successful, then the provision of a multi-use games area in an agreed location should be added to the list.

 

The Parish Council respectfully requests a meeting on site with the Leader of North Somerset Council and the chief executive of North Somerset Housing, together with ward councillors, to familiarise themselves with the area and to have preliminary discussions concerning the potential for these proposals to be brought to fruition.

 

 

Gerry Hunt. November 2007