Regards
 
 
 
Alasdair  

-----Original Message-----
From: Cycle_Hitchin@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Cycle_Hitchin@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Alasdair Massie
Sent: 28 April 2008 12:15
To: 'Cycle_Hitchin@yahoogroups.com'
Subject: RE: [Cycle_Hitchin] Hitchin station forecourt redesign

Dear all,

 

I should have been a bit more careful here. I meant to send around an explanatory email when I loaded up the plan, but did not have time.

 

As far as I know this is just a preliminary plan, not something that is likely to happen in the immediate future. Simon Young at NHDC asked me if I would like to comment. I put the plans on the group filespace so that others could view and comment on them. I would be grateful if any comments could be channelled back through me.

 

I have already sent back very detailed comments to Simon. A copy of the letter can be downloaded from the group filespace at the location below. In the same folder you can find an archive of my letters to Railtrack on Hitchin Station forecourt from the 1999/2000 rebuild, and a sketch showing how I believe the forecourt should be arranged (using the current proposal as a base).

 

Files at:

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/Cycle_Hitchin/files/HitchinStation/

Regards
 
 
 
Alasdair

-----Original Message-----
From: Cycle_Hitchin@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Cycle_Hitchin@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of SUSAN DYE
Sent: 26 April 2008 12:42
To: Cycle_Hitchin@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Cycle_Hitchin] Hitchin station forecourt redesign

Thanks for this Alasdair - seems as if the proposals optimise car/taxi/bus access at the expense of cyclists and pedestrians. What do other people think?

 

There is still no safe access for cyclists in and out of the station, though cycle parking will double (which is good). The design seems to want cyclists to use the pavement. Cycle parking nearest the station entrance seems to be being removed.

 

Also the pedestrian desire line (diagonally across the site) is being ignored. I guess that pedestrians will tangle with buses and taxis to continue using the old pedestrian crossing to the station.

 

All the greenery gets the chop. Just 5 new small trees in metal boxes. It'll be pretty bleak to look at.

 

The residents at Station Terrace and Bytham Bank still get nowhere to park (they are currently unofficially tolerated in the existing disabled parking area and on the buildout near Bytham Bank).

 

It looks to me as though there could be more congestion and backing up of vehicles in this new design. A bus or coach wanting to swing in and out will be blocked by any congestion at the taxi/kiss&drop area and will have to go over 3 vertical deflections whereas the private cars on a short stay/turnaround have no traffic calming to negotiate.

 

The taxis look to have lost space overall. And how will having 2 parallel ranks work?

 

Who is the lead person on this? Will there be any consultation or is it all done and dusted?

I can understand that it's easy to criticise a design than produce one yourself, so these comments should just be taken as 1st reactions.

 

Regards

Susan

Secretary Hitchin Triangle Residents Association

(which includes the housing at the station)

01462 422814

Cycle_Hitchin@yahoogroups.com wrote:

Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the Cycle_Hitchin
group.

File : /Hitchin Station Forecourt Plans April 08.pdf
Uploaded by : alasdairmassie
Description : Proposals for re-building the station forecourt

You can access this file at the URL:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Cycle_Hitchin/files/Hitchin%20Station%20Forecourt%20Plans%20April%2008.pdf

To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:
http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/groups/original/members/web/index.htmlfiles

Regards,

alasdairmassie





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