The latest minutes from the Rayleigh Chamber of Trade can be downloaded from their website here.
Section 11 is especially interesting, particularly at the end:
11. Local planning issues that are affecting the town
Carl said that an independent survey had been carried out on car parking which looked at lots of issues and put forward a number of proposals from town councils, local councils etc. The main thing we wanted to see was the introduction of an half hour band. This went to RDC for approval but they decided to do nothing and keep everything the same, even though the survey was put together by their own review committee.
The car parking refund scheme only seems to be operating at the Co-op now and we as a Chamber should try to get it reinstated.
The car parking charges have not increased and RTC feel sure RDC realised the impact of how businesses suffered through the gas work etc.
When reviewing the shopping survey from May 2008 the town has changed from retail to service industry with beauticians, nail parlours, hair dressers etc. We are ending up with more of a service industry and he has asked for a review to see how people use the shops, what is being used in the town and what is coming in.
Pay on exit has been already been looked at and Carl was asked if the car parking could be free on Saturdays ? not at the moment. They are looking to make it free at the weekends prior to Christmas….….Michael said that a decision will be made at full council tomorrow and she should contact the local councillor straight away. He would be pleased to take the views of the Chamber along
Ian added that Town councillors are attending the District Council because there are serious issues to be discussed and within the District Council there are people who are not on Rayleigh?s side. Michael will speak on our behalf but Peggy suggested that members Email their own ward councillor tonight.
The comments from Ian : “Town councillors are attending the District Council because there are serious issues to be discussed and within the District Council there are people who are not on Rayleigh?s side. “ are especially interesting because Ian is a Conservative Town Councillor , and he certainly isn’t criticising the District Council Lib Dems here!
Who is “Ian” please because I cannot access the link to the Minutes referred to above?
Ian Ward
I too am concerned about Rayleigh. Surely we are at saturation point with Take-aways? I almost never go into Southend. What I can’t get in Rayleigh I go without. However, the range of shops is becoming more limited. If the reason for major stores not finding the town viable is down to numbers, surely the answer lies in reviewing parking arrangements? Saturdays, Sundays & Bank Holidays should be free all day, & we could have long stay & short stay designated car parks. You don’t need to be brain of Britain to understand the logic of easier/cheaper parking = more customers = a more vibrant & interesting town!
I am also concerned about the impact on the RDC area & it’s residents following the Connaught situation. I understand the Council have contingency plans, but how long will these take to be implemented, & what will be the financial implications if any?
I feel very sorry for the Housing Association Tenants whoose homes are in the process of being upgraded, & of course there is the effect on our parks, roadsides etc. RDC residents need some reassurances from the Council. I doubt they will suspend payment of Council Tax whilst they sort it out!
Over to you Councillors, good luck!
Hockley is also inudated with fast food shops and its 2nd new undertakers is to open in the prime Alldays site. That will attract the crowds to the shops!
Admin – is there anything that can be done on the planning front to control these?
The fate of Rayleigh town centre has been a concern of RDC for some time. I say a concern because RDC do not know how to deal with Rayleigh. They have no idea of the demographic structure of the population and even less of what the residents of this town actually want, and if they do, they have scant respect of our views. We do need to impress our views on our councillors and we need to make an impression in their minds that if our councillors feel that by following the ‘party line’ it will increase their time as councillors they are wrong! Times are changing in Rayleigh and our councillors need to make a decision. Do they represent the undemocratic regime that we are currently have or a new inclusive structure that the majority of the sidents want and more importantly, will get!
Mark Francois, Terry Cutmore and Keith Hudson addressed a packed HRA meeting last night, which discussed the problem of fast food shops etc. Cllr Hudson said that it is possible to impose ratios on types of shops through the Area Action Plan. We will certainly seek to do that in Hockley but Rayleigh has the same opportunity.
Janet, we’ve checked with the council re Connaught and published a piece today on what we know. Hopefully things will be sorted out pretty quickly.
Regarding the High Street, the council’s review committee spent time coming up with new proposals, such as a 30 minute parking period, which were then rejected by the council leadership. Free parking would help – and I’m expecting the council to ofer free parking on Saturdays up to Xmas. But some shoppers and motorists simply prefer the simplicity of going to one out of town supermarket and doing one big shop, even when parking is free. And the council needs car parking income.
There ARE some very good shops in Rayleigh, so that if I want to do a beef stew I can buy my steak at Byfords and then buy my veg at the very good greengrocers in Berry’s Arcade. You won’t find any better produce anywhere. What we need to help shops like these is an ‘anchor store’ to attract shoppers into the town, the problem is we don’t have the kind of large modern premises that big stores look for. (Though maybe one of them could have used Woolworth’s?)
I asked for Rayleigh to have its own action plan, that’s being worked on, whether it will help we must wait and see.
It’s a very important issue.