The Mill Road Masterplan
A Unique Space
One of the positive effects of the Tesco debate has been to draw attention to the importance of local businesses to the vital and diverse character of Mill Road. Local retailers like Hillary’s, Limoncello, Cutlacks, The Black Cat Cafe, Al-Amin and The Old Chemist Shop Antique Centre, to name but a few examples, provide a unique and friendly service to customers. They also keep money within the community, which is a good thing, in our view. Along with Catherine Smart and Nichola Harrison I have developed an exciting proposal which would not only preserve but enhance the independent character of Mill Road’s shops. Provisionally we have called it the Mill Road Masterplan.
The Plan
What we are proposing to do is to make Mill Road the first “Independent Business Zone” in the country, and at the same time to engage in a program of radical environmental and infrastructural improvements which are urgently required in Romsey and Petersfield. The first question is – are we allowed to ban large multinationals from moving in to existing premises? The answer is, obviously, no. However, we propose to make two changes:
1. In the short term, we are simply going to call Mill Road an Independent Business Zone (IBZ). This will give it special status in the city of Cambridge. We will place large, colourful signs at either end of the road which clearly mark this status, and add “Mill Road” to signposts elsewhere in the city. We will also have the zone indicated on maps available in the Visitor’s Information Centre and elsewhere. This will generate interest and attract more people to our area. We hope that this special status will also, over time, come to exert a certain influence over planning decisions. In the same way that some National Trust sites have no effective legal status but are nonetheless unthinkable for major development, businesses which wish to move in to the Independent Business Zone will have to demonstrate their local ethos and that there exists a need for their service.
2. In the longer term, we hope to change the legislation involved in assessing Planning Applications. The Liberal Democrats are about enabling local communities, and we are going to press central government to alter the planning laws in such a way as to do so. Despite their onetime socialist credentials, Labour over the past decade have consistently put corporate interests before those of ordinary citizens. Communities all over the country have been protesting against the way in which multinationals have been given carte blanche to operate as they please; it is time the government acknowledged this.
Changes We Want To Make
We recently conducted a meeting at the Guild Hall, involving a number of Liberal Democrat city and county councillors for Romsey and Petersfield, and a large number of Mill Road traders. (Further meetings will involve other groups; this initial one was to introduce the traders, who will be centrally affected by the plans, to our idea, and to ask them to elect three representatives.) These are some initial proposals that emerged from the meeting.
* Bright, Attractive Signs should be placed at either end of Mill Road, indicating its Independent Business Zone status.
* City Maps should be amended, a/ so as to incorporate the whole of Mill Road, not just Petersfield, and b/ the Independent Business Zone should be clearly marked on it. In addition, a Mill Road Map should also be produced and distributed by the traders, ARU (we hope) and the Visitors’ Information Centre.
* Funding for accident reduction on Mill Road, from the County Council’s October List, should be spent in accordance with the objectives of these plans. The most appropriate scheme, we feel, would be the Dutch model of “Shared Space” (as opposed to its flimsy counterpart in Kensington). This involves giving pedestrians priority and removing street signs, thus forcing motorists to rely on eye contact between each other. This hugely reduces traffic speed and road accidents.
* There should be Better Signage to Mill Road from the rail station.
* New Street-Lighting along the Broadway. The streetlighting in Romsey is substandard, and urgently needs upgrading. If a Private Finance Initiative goes ahead, the vast majority of streetlights on Mill Road (Romsey) will be replaced, as well as many of those throughout the ward. (More on this in the Local Issues section.) One local shopkeeper suggested that the streetlights might be painted a bright, attractive colour as opposed to the usual dull grey. Moreover, the lamps in Romsey and Petersfield should be painted the same colour: this would have a unifying effect.
* In keeping with the “shared space” idea, we want to Revamp the Pavements and Roads throughout the area. Shared space sites often do away with the clear cut road-kerb-pavement distinction, opting instead for a continuous, albeit differently coloured surface, on road and pavement, with a small curved drop from pavement to road. This would make Mill Road look more like an attractive market space, fix our disgraceful pavements (caused by shabby maintenance and inadequate funding from the Tory-run County Council) and slow motorists down as well.
* As part of this, Mill Road should be made Safer For Cyclists. The existing cycle black-spots opposite Cutlacks and The Royal Standard Pub should be removed. In both cases the road narrows suddenly, putting the cyclist in a precarious position. In the latter case, there is no streetlighting on this dangerous corner.
* If possible some additional Green Space should be created alongside the road, such as there already is at the East Road junction with Mill Road. The “Priory” and “John Lewis” sites should be developed in keeping with the spirit of the Masterplan, to enhance this neglected stretch of Mill Road.
* A distinctive piece of Public Art, like Maggie Hambling’s “scallop” for example, would be nice.
* Additional restrictions should be placed on deliveries during the day; these are one of the main causes of serious congestion problems on Mill Road and need to be more rigorously controlled. We cannot expect people to come here to shop if access is hopeless.
* The Open-Top Bus might be encouraged to incorporate Mill Road on its route.
* Some Additional Parking Spaces and Cycle Spaces should be created for people visiting the shops and neighbourhood.
