We ran this final phase of consultation from 19 February to 18 March 2024.
We needed to update the Masterplan to incorporate your feedback. The changes were for the Civic Walk. We targeted traders because the Nature Walk and Neighbourhood Walk stayed the same.
How we consulted
We had the draft Alfrieda Street Public Realm Masterplan available here on Your Say, and:
- presented at the St Albans Business Association meeting on 19 February
- face to face engagement with all traders on Alfrieda Street on 29 February. This included a Vietnamese translator and translated information
- presented at the St Albans Partnership Group meeting on 4 March.
Outcome
We developed the Masterplan initiatives in direct response to these community concerns.
What you told us
Traders are worried about changes that could affect commercial vitality. Most of the concerns were around the loss of car parking. They feel car parking is important for accessibility and convenience to businesses in Alfrieda Street.
Footpath expansion
- front and rear loading zones required for businesses (3 mentions)
- short-term parking required for takeaway delivery drivers (3 mentions)
- does the masterplan allow for the needs of the St Albans Lunar Festival? (1 mention)
- loved the idea of more greenery. And in particular bamboo plants to provide shade to grocers on the eastern side. Shade is really important as it protects produce. (2 mentions)
- do not want any loss of car-parking at all (2 mentions)
- loved the idea of having more opportunity for outdoor dining (3 mentions)
- loss of parking on the sides of the road are not an issue. I want to see middle parking kept (1 mention)
- look at the parking times to make sure they are suiting all businesses (1 mention)
- concerned that making the road more narrow means cars cannot overtake cars that are waiting for a park or double parked to enter shops (1 mention).
Community Activation Space
- more public toilets (1 mention)
- will encourage more people to congregate and drink like the other one (1 mention)
- current Civic Plaza may look good, but it is not being maintained. I want to ensure better maintenance (1 mention)
- closure of Elaine St will create circulation problems. Keep access from Alfrieda St into Elaine St, egress can be removed if required (1 mention)
- the current layout doesn’t allow vehicles to do a loop of Alfrieda St again if looking for car parking (1 mention)
- don’t repeat mistakes from Sunshine Civic Green because no one uses this area and businesses there are struggling as a result (1 mention).
Existing Collins Street Car Park and improving the community's use
- increase the use of the carpark lighting. And safety of the car park and the laneways needs to be increased (6 mentions)
- signage advising motorists of available car spaces in Collins St is a great idea (1 mention).
