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Baldock Town Centre Enhancement
The Council appointed Skanska McNicholas as the Contractor to undertake the Baldock Town Centre Enhancement works. The works started on 9 June 2008 and the Council is pleased to advise that the works are on schedule for completion in spring 2009.
An updated phasing programme of the works can be viewed below, along with the agreed masterplan.
About Skanska McNicholas (678kb)
Agreed masterplan (1836kb)
Construction Phasing revised (383kb)
Site Logisitics (597kb)
Site Logistics and Public Relations
- Access to businesses, shops and residences will be retained during the works.
- Although parking in the works area has been suspended until the works are complete, the contractors have made every effort to open areas up to parking to help keep the town functioning.
- The Wednesday market will operate as usual, but may be from temporary locations while the contractors are working in the High Street.
- There is a daily presence of Skanska McNicholas staff on site to answer any queries or concerns. Their site office is located in the Twitchell car park.
- Information about the works is on display at the Community Centre in Simpson Drive.
Traffic Management Provisions - Temporary Traffic Lights
As the contractor enters the final stages of their work programme, this will include two of the more complex parts of work. First, the work around the roundabout at the Whitehorse Street end of High Street and the second, the remodeling of the existing traffic light controlled junction of the A507 the east end of Whitehorse Street.
Work on the first area will require temporary traffic control lights and we anticipate they will be in place the week commencing 24th November to March 2009. They will, however, be removed for the Christmas and New Year recess.
Before Christmas there will be three way lights in Whitehorse Street, Hitchin Street and High Street allowing traffic to travel as normal. After Christmas, High Street will be blocked off from Hitchin Street and Whitehorse Street. This will allow traffic to travel east to west and vice versa, but not into or out of High Street from the north. High Street will be accessible from the southern end and vehicles will have to do a u-turn at the northern end where High Street will be closed beyond Simpson Drive as a temporary measure until March 2009.
The second area, the A507 junction, will also require temporary lights to replace the permanent set due to be upgraded. The Contractor working with our design have arranged their work sequence so that this second set of temporary lights will not be installed until the first set in Hitchin Street and Whitehorse Street is dismantled.
Diversions and warning signs will be in place giving alternative routes. Even with our best endeavours we cannot control factors such as the weather, but we believe our preparations will reduce the affect these things may have on progress.
There will inevitably be some disruption and delays during the works. This is unavoidable but will be to the benefit of all concerned once completed. Your tolerance and patience would be greatly appreciated during the Construction period.
During the enhancement works it will be business as usual for the town centre with as minimal disruption as possible.
Proposed Car Parking Restrictions
As part of the Town Centre Enhancement works North Hertfordshire District Council proposes to make Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO) to introduce a new parking layout with restrictions in various roads in Baldock Town Centre. Namely:
- High Street
- Whitehorse Street
- Bell Row
- Sun Street
- Part of Simpson Drive, Church Street and Hitchin Street
The proposed Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) previously advertised on 6th November 2008 for 28 days comprised of a series of deposited documents:
Parking Statement of Reasons (20.6kb)
Parking Permit TRO (53.3kb)
Waiting Restriction TRO (41.4kb)
Parking Public Notice (50.2kb)
Plan High Street South (319kb)
Plan Whitehorse St (337kb)
Plan High St & Simpson Dr (484kb)
Plan High St & Mansfield Rd (380kb)
Plan Hitchin St (298kb)
Plan Central Area (422kb)
The period for submitting representations closed on the 1st December 2008.
The proposed parking restrictions if implemented will clearly indicate to drivers where they may and may not park. Within the town centre’s core area, during the hours 8am to 6pm on Monday to Friday, the marked-out spaces will be subject to a maximum stay of either 1 or 2 hours. In the High Street, Hitchin Street and part of Simpson Drive parking will be limited to 2 hours with no return within 2 hours, and in Whitehorse Street and Sun Street parking will be limited to 1 hour with no return within 2 hours.
A resident who lives in designated town centre roads within the core area and whose premises have no parking space would be eligible to apply for one permit. This would enable them to leave their vehicle without time limit in the 1 and 2 hour parking spaces mentioned above, subject to conditions laid down by the Council. If the scheme goes ahead residents will be given more information, including how to apply for permits. Business permits and visitor permits or tickets will not be available. The core area includes, Whitehorse Street, Sun Street, Bell Row, High Street southwards to Mansfield Road and the service road, part of Hitchin Street, the southern end of Church Street and part of Simpson Drive.
Outside of the town centre’s core area, parking bays are being provided and these will generally be available for anyone and will have no time limit. Designated spaces will also be allocated for disabled badge holders, buses, taxis and for loading purposes. Outside of the marked parking bays, parking will generally be prohibited at all times.
All objections submitted to the proposed TRO are being considered by officers and the outcomes will be reported to Members at the Baldock & District Committee Meeting on Monday 12th January 2009 together with Officer recommendations.
