A Masterplan for Dunstable
Central Bedfordshire Councillor Ken Matthews with Masterplan prize draw winner Mrs L Hammond.
Regeneration, masterplanning and design specialists EDAW have been appointed to produce a Masterplan for Dunstable Town Centre. The Masterplan will outline a vision for the future of the town centre; look at ways of addressing the economic, social and environmental issues that the town faces; and outline ways in which the role of the town centre can be enhanced to meet the needs of current and future residents.
In conjunction with the next stage of the Dunstable Town Centre Masterplan exercise, a public exhibition was held in the Quadrant Shopping Centre and the Dunstable Library during the middle of September. This exhibition was held to give members of the public and local businesses an opportunity to comment on the possible options for the future of the Town Centre Masterplan.
Councillor Ken Mathews, Central Bedfordshire Council's Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth and Regeneration, said: “Dunstable is among many traditional market towns which have been affected by the current economic climate so we want to work with local people and hear views from residents and businesses about what is important to them for the future of their community. The comments received by local people and businesses from the options exhibition will be assessed by the masterplan consultants before developing the ‘preferred option’. This option will then be subject to a period of statutory consultation, which will take place towards the end of the year”
As part of the first stage of the Dunstable Town Centre Masterplan, some 16,000 ‘free-post’ postcards were sent out to the majority of householders in Dunstable during March/April 2009, requesting ideas of what the local community would like to see for the future of the town centre. The post cards requested residents to ‘Share their ideas to help shape the future of the town centre’
More than 800 postcards were returned with the main ideas focusing on:
- an improved range and quality of shops;
- the importance of delivering the proposed A5 – M1 link road to reduce congestion;
- improved movement and access across the town centre;
- and building upon the existing local heritage assets.
These ideas were all used to help develop the options for this stage of the masterplan.
The returned postcards were entered into a prize draw with the possibility of winning £50 of Argos vouchers. Cllr Ken Matthews picked the winning postcard which was submitted by Mrs L. Hammond of Allen Close, Dunstable.
Mrs Hammond stated on her postcard that she wanted ‘a bypass to take-away the traffic, decent shops and places to eat, a say in what is built so it is pleasing on the eye and the hope of bringing back prosperity to the town.’
A website has been created specifically for the Masterplan. Visit
www.dunstablemasterplan.info for more information, including detail on the consultants producing the Masterplan, latest news and opportunities to have your say.
Date Updated: 06/10/09
Recommended external websites
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DUNSTABLE MASTERPLAN | http://www.dunstablemasterplan.info |