Vision of future for new-look King Street (From Knutsford Guardian)

Vision of future for new-look King Street

11:20am Monday 24th September 2012 in News By James Wilson

SEVEN recommendations have been drawn up to improve King Street in the future, including withdrawing the much-criticised ‘pedestrianisation’ scheme for good.

The working group of Knutsford Town Plan showcased the results of its King Street enhancement work to the town earlier this month.

In its 22-page report the working group identified seven key points as a result of holding its consultation events in April and May.

The group has recommended the following – l The original 2004 Local Plan policy to pedestrianise the street with service roads and the Knutsford Town Plan Proposal recommending pedestrianisation should be withdrawn.

l The development of a ‘New Plan’ for King Street enhancements should be pursued vigorously by the Knutsford Town and Cheshire East Councils.

l The New Plan to be based upon ‘Increased Pedestrian Priority’, in which a range of options including widened footways or ‘shared surface’ concepts should be implemented depending on the location, width and character of the street. Vehicular access should be maintained at all times.

l The Town Council should request that Cheshire East Council seeks funding to implement the scheme, appointing officers and urban designers in the 2012/13 financial year.

l The project management team set up by Cheshire East Council should include, in addition to its own officers, representatives from Knutsford Town Council, the Town Centre Working Group and King Street businesses.

l Cheshire East Council designers should consider phased implementation and identify low-cost elements that could be implemented in early years.

l Cheshire East Council designers should consider looking at the whole of King Street for pedestrian priority measures, with the central section as the first phase.

It should include a gateway feature into the street at Adams Hill as a key element of the improvements.

Bob Quin, chairman of the working group, said: “Our remit had been the enhancement of King Street, and in producing this report two vital factors had been ever in our minds.

“First to maintain the unique character of this little town, and second that while minority groups, for example, disabled people, mums with prams, senior citizens, the blind etc, must be catered for, no change must ever seriously disadvantage any user of King Street.

“We believe the recommendations would, when completed, enhance the street and bring some degree of benefit to all users.”