Application No. 10/00885/FUL
Alterations and extension to existing shopping centre to create 3 retail units
St Nicholas Arcade, Ashton Walk, Lancaster LA1 1ND
The Civic Society has no objection in principle to the proposed development. Whilst the loss of a pedestrian route through the Arcade from Penny Street to Great John Street is regrettable, the development would have little effect on the street scene on Great John Street.
The Civic Society does not oppose the grant of planning permission for the proposed development.
Note added by Webmaster: see also previous note posted on the Noticeboard in July 2010
Note added by Webmaster: The Committee has since had representation from a member (below) stating that the decision to close the access to Great John Street is deplorable. Would others like to add comments here?
It is very helpful and interesting to have these comments.
In submitting representations on planning applications to the Council on behalf of the Society we are faced with a difficult task. There is, as you know, time pressure, which makes gathering views from the membership problematic. To try and encourage debate and obtain a consensus view, we encourage members to join the planning group which meets to consider, discuss and formulate responses to applications of significance and this invitation applies to any interested members. Contact Anne Stelfox (email rjw.stelfox@virgin.net or tel 01524 823299) for more information. We also encourage members to submit their own personal representations on matters which concern them.
The loss of continuous, direct access to Great John Street through St Nicholas Arcade was of concern to many of us and it was discussed at a recent Committee meeting. Several Committee members were dismayed at the prospect of losing this historic thoroughfare. However, on balance it was accepted that, whilst regrettable, the loss of access (outside retail hours) could be (reluctantly) accepted. It was noted that neither of the two controlled crossings over Great John Street were in the immediate vicinity of the current exit, being positioned at the junction of Lower Church Street at Stonewell and at the north end of Dalton Square.
On other occasions we have taken a different stance over loss of thoroughfares. Recently, we objected the blocking up (to create a sales kiosk) of the entrance to Marketgate adjacent to Cafe Nero on Market Street and to the application by the 1725 (previously the Blue Anchor) pub for outside seating in Market Square of the grounds that it would impede access to the ginnel linking Market Square to Church Street.
It would be very interesting to have the views of other members on this and other matters. Please post your comments so that we can have a wide-ranging discussion.
Winnie Clark
Hon. Secretary, Lancaster Civic Society
I must say I was pretty surprised – shocked even – to read in the latest newsletter that Lancaster Civic Society ‘…has no objection in principle…’ to the NEXT development in St Nicholas’ Arcade: The decision to close the access to Great John Street is, in my view, deplorable!
As some may remember, the loss of St Nicholas Street and the development of the St Nicholas’ Shopping Centre and car park robbed Stonewell and Moor Lane [and all the fine buildings thereon] of their seamless connection with the city centre, only to be poorly compensated by the inclusion of a miserable perimeter walkway, an evacuation stair that appeared to double-up as a public urinal and a tortuous ramp that took so long to descend, one felt like jumping off it!
Even those pedestrian circulation devices, desolate and ineffective as they were, were removed by the rearward extension of the shop units, the closure of the evacuation stair and the replacement of the ramp with a stair that is, for many, too steep to negotiate.
This poor development of the 1960s and the later tinkering has resulted in Stonewell and Moor Lane becoming more and more cut off from the town centre: the closure of the public right of way through the centre means even greater isolation for the shops, restaurants, pub and the Playhouse.
All too many areas in city centres are being closed off by private development. To counter this worrying trend, I believe our Civic Society should not simply [and simplistically] be concerned with the ‘…effect on the street scene…’ of new developments; it should also be concerning itself with the way in which new development affects the public, or civic, realm – goodness knows, someone has to…