Farmers market and festivals for Coronation Square, Hester's Way
STREET festivals, wildlife areas, art projects and a farmer's market are some of the suggestions put forward for improvements to a rundown shopping centre.
A survey of people and organisations in Hester's Way has drawn up a long list of ideas to help the struggling Coronation Square, where 17 of the 36 units are currently empty.
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Looking to the future: Hester's Way Partnership manager Andy Hayes
Cheltenham Borough Council asked the Hester's Way Partnership, a charity set up to spearhead improving the area, to carry out the survey.
The findings will be presented by authority to the company which buys the privately owned lease for the shopping centre, which is currently up for sale.
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Hester's Way Partnership manager Andy Hayes said: "Many people think we should knock down Coronation Square and start again.
"But it may be that whoever buys the lease can't afford to or doesn't want to do that, so we thought it would be a good idea to put forward ideas for what local people want to see happen if it's not knocked down."
Among the ideas in the survey are suggestions by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, Gloucestershire police, volunteers group People and Places in Gloucestershire and St Aidan's and St Silas church.
The Wildlife Trust commented: "It would be good if any changes to the area could include some sustainable planting, not only for wildlife but to help soften the area and make it more attractive for people.
"This is maybe something the local schools could help with."
Hester's Way's police team suggested a pop-up restaurant or coffee shop selling locally sourced products, a monthly farmers market, a health centre, education centre and community arts project.
People and Places in Gloucestershire recommended using "empty shops as meantime spaces with guardian tenants who don't pay rent but open shops on a short term basis".
The group said this could include pop up shops, indoor markets, community arts projects, mini festivals and interactive street art and music.
Nearby church St Aidan's and St Silas suggested introducing a post office with an ATM machine, stationers, pet shop, launderette, hardware store, greengrocer, and coffee shop.
Property investment manager CBRE Global Investors recently confirmed the lease was owned by one of its clients, which bought it in 2007.
Plans for Coronation Square once included a £10 million transformation with a Tesco store and other shops and cafes, but the development was dropped after an Asda opened in Up Hatherley.
Comments
by Dave_t10
Saturday, October 20 2012, 2:12AM
“Only one thing is going to improve this area, a giant wrecking ball or a bulldozer.
It is an utter eyesore!”
by vviggy
Friday, October 19 2012, 8:51PM
“The area of Hesters Way and in particular Coronation Square is well known for being a high crime location. The council has used the it for at least 2 decades as a sink-hole for alcoholics, druggies and undesirables. If you place a large number of that type of person in one area then you shouldn't be surprised when it becomes run-down. Having said that, the majority of residents are hard-working, honest people but the percentage of criminals in the area is too high and needs reducing via relocation across Cheltenham instead of being concentrated in just one place.”
by 2dooks
Friday, October 19 2012, 1:45PM
“Farmers' Market!?! Having seen the prices which are asked at these affairs, there is Bob Hope that the folk of Hester's Way would take that to their heart, it would shut down through lack of business in the first month!
People should be more realistic than this surely.”
by Bishipeeps
Friday, October 19 2012, 12:22PM
“The area has a lot of decent, hard working families who have to live in a poor environment. There are obviously anti-social and criminal people who also live there but the comments from softtabor and paul813 are not helpful and the former outrageous. If softtabor wants to build a prison to house Gloucestershire criminals, I suggest Broadway is a good spot for a prison as there you will find many a banker living in luxury and who'se actions and greed have caused the current ruin of this country!”
by softtabor
Friday, October 19 2012, 11:39AM
“The square should have a jolly large prison built on it with a court on top.
Fast track justice on the doorstep, allowing the "families" easy access to their loved ones who are serving time.”
by paul813
Friday, October 19 2012, 7:52AM
“its not what they put up there , its a lot of the people that use and abuse whatever they like ! scroungers. drunks . yobs , untill this is sorted it might aswell be left has it is.it used to be a nice little shopping centre ok things have changed with big supermarkets etc , but people would still use the shops it would save on bus fares or parking etc and its on the doorstep to a large community , but like i say when you go there and have to put up with drunks sitting on the benches spitting on the ground , scroungers asking for money and watch drug dealing taking place it just puts people off using the place”