Date: 27/01/2009
High Peak Borough Council is finalising plans for next week's workshop -- the first of three -- in which we are asking you, the public, to get involved with shaping the future design of Buxton's town centre.
Last month, the Council announced that we will put together a 'Design and Place Making Strategy' for Buxton's town centre. However, we are keen to work with the local community and involve as many interested parties and members of the public as possible.
"We have sent out over 100 letters and have tried to bring it to the attention of anyone who may have an interest," said Tony Kemp, Executive Councillor for Regeneration.
"Anyone intending to come, has been asked to register their interest and, so far, I am very pleased to say that the response has been very positive. We want this to be as inclusive of everyone's views as possible and so anyone is welcome to come along."
The strategy is needed to ensure that any new development will meet the town's expectations and sit comfortably without changing Buxton's historic character detrimentally. This will be put together with an innovative approach that will involve all interested parties, taking part in workshops. These will discuss how the town needs to shape up for the future, how Buxton caters for daily life and work, and how it balances the pressures of tourism with local aspirations towards a common vision. In later sessions, the workshops will put together design guidance for key sites in town.
"I realise that the next few months are going to be difficult for the town centre but developers are still looking beyond the current economic downturn and the town needs to be ready with a clear vision of what it wants and needs," added Councillor Kemp. "The Council held a similar workshop exercise when it put together its design framework for the Station Road area in 2006, which was very well received by those people who took part. The intention is not to revisit that piece of work but to expand the vision to the whole of the town centre. I very much hope that the public will come along and join in."
The first workshop will be held in the Paxton Suite, Pavilion Gardens on Wednesday, February 4, 2009. People will need to register their interest in attending, no later than Friday, January 30, 2009. You can do this online here or by ringing 0845 129 7777.
Anyone attending is asked to arrive from 5.30pm, to ensure that the session can start promptly at 6pm -- expected length of session is three hours.
