This response from the Love Bengeo Community Group (formerly the Community Steering Group for the Bengeo Neighbourhood Area Plan), is confined to proposals impacting the Hertford Castle Gardens Island, the St. Andrew Street car park, and Listed buildings in St. Andrew Street. These areas fall entirely within the boundary of the Bengeo Neighbourhood Area Plan.
The relevant Neighbourhood Plan Policies are –
• HBN3: Nature Conservation
• HBN4: Improving Air Quality
• HBC1: Enhanced Community Facilities
• HBC2: Listed Buildings and Structures
• HBC4: Cultural Facilities
• HBT2: Encouraging More Walking
• HBT3: Encouraging More Cycling
We welcome the proposal to relocate the children’s play area around 30 metres further from the A414. Criterion III, Policy HBN4 says: –
‘Proposals to relocate the Hertford Castle Gardens children’s play area to an alternative location within Hertford Castle Gardens will be supported. Relocation away from the A414 boundary will help to reduce
the negative impact of poor air quality on play area users’
During the consultative process for the Hertford Castle Greenspace Renewal, we expressed support for the relocation of the play area, highlighting Policy HBN4.
We also welcome the proposed motte and bailey inspired play equipment, reflecting the historical and cultural context of Hertford Castle and its grounds. Policy HBC1 welcomes proposals to ‘improve or enhance community facilities when they improve the range, quality, suitability, and accessibility of facilities for residents’, and Policy HBC4 supports proposals for the development or expansion of cultural facilities.
We recognise that relocating the play area will give it a more dominant presence in the castle gardens but consider that this is outweighed by the benefits to park users of upgraded and more relevant play facilities, further away from the noise and pollution of a busy road.
We note that Listed buildings in St. Andrew Street are included for impact assessment. Neighbourhood Plan Policy HBC2 includes due reference to assessing negative impacts from development on Listed buildings.
We welcome the proposal to improve access for pedestrians and cyclists from the St. Andrew Street car park to the Island. It’s regrettable that this will result in the loss of 6 standard car parking bays and 1 one blue badge bay from the car park. We understand that, over the entire site, there will be a net reduction of 3 standard bays and a net increase of 1 blue badge bay.
Policies HBT2 and HBT3 support proposals that result in good connectivity between new and existing pedestrian routes, and improved cycle route connectivity. The improved connectivity, via Mill Bridge, as a by-product, will also benefit pedestrians. Locating the new centralised bridge between the play area and the rest of Hertford Castle Gardens will benefit play area
users, particularly pedestrians with pushchairs and toddlers. We note a reference (in the Transport Statement) to ‘cycle parking – black Sheffield parking stands to match existing’. Images appear to show a cycle parking stand at the edge of the play area. Ideally, this would be a covered stand.
The proposed Miyawaki planting, near the boundary with Gascoyne Way will, hopefully, mitigate some of the negative impact from traffic noise and fumes, and the proposed wildflower meadow areas, will contribute to biodiversity net gain, and complement the naturalised design of the play area. Neighbourhood Plan Policy HBN3 supports proposals to create new natural areas and wildlife habitats.
We note that Chapter 3 of the Design and Access Statement expresses an intention for community involvement in the longer term care of the Miyawaki Forest and Wildflower Meadows on the Island. The Love Bengeo Community Group offers to actively support the care and maintenance of both, which is consistent with the Love Bengeo community garden project (which evolved out of the Neighbourhood Plan). The Group also offers to actively support the
installation of a community noticeboard for the promotion of both community projects and Town Council projects and events. The Group can be contacted on info@lovebengeo.org.uk
We endorse these proposals and hope to see them come to fruition.