New vision for St Paul's
VISIONS to turn St Paul's into a pedestrian paradise have been created by an artist.
Scott Farlow believes he can transform the Cheltenham area into a self-sufficient and crime-free location.
And he would like to see the number of cars across the ward being cut.
He is now working with landscape artist students at the University of Gloucestershire to help turn his dream into a reality.
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Scott, who is based in Bristol, who helped draw up the ideas to improve St Paul's, has returned to start up a new community project alongside the students and residents.
He hopes it will bring people together, and move the ward one step closer to its vision.
The project will focus on the idea of shared space in the area, focusing on Marle Hill Parade.
Scott said: "One of the things we – St Paul's Residents Association (SPRA), the residents, and myself – have always been interested in, is in giving more priority to people and pedestrians, to look at ways of populating the streets with people, and find more of a balance between cars and traffic, the idea of 'living streets'.
"That's quite a strong theme that runs throughout SPRA's vision.
"The Marle Hill Parade project is an opportunity for me to work with a group of students, to collaborate with SPRA, to look at options for reorganising street patterns, and to challenge conventional thinking."
Starting on January 18, Scott will run a 12-week course from the University of Gloucestershire's Francis Close Hall campus.
He will work with landscape students and St Paul's residents to find out what they want, how changing how public spaces are used can improve residents' experiences, and how to action those changes.
Then, to illustrate the impact of people power, he, in partnership with SPRA, will hold a car-free day in Marle Hill Parade on April 26, as he marks the end of the course.
"St Paul's is a very rich neighbourhood," said Scott.
"Its history is forgotten, but it was home to artists, so it has a really creative root.
"I think you can see that in a lot of its hidden architecture in the streets, in the detailing.
"It's a place with huge character, both in terms of people, and as a place to live."
The ward has had "fairly long-running social issues," said Scott, and he wants to continue to "challenge misconceptions".
He said: "Obviously it has a high population of students, so it's very transitory.
"There's this strange disconnect between ownership of a place, and what we proactively do to be a community, and the relationship there."
Ward councillor for the area Jon Walklett (LD) said he would give his backing to the project.
But he said the key would be getting residents in St Paul's to back the scheme if it was to prove a success.
He added: "The important thing here is to get the community on board.
"If it's anything to do with brightening up the street scene in St Paul's then it has my full support."
Comments
by Driud
Saturday, January 05 2013, 8:14PM
“Why just stop at St. Paul's.. why not other areas in the town centre? A car free zone would be nice..”
by AndyPrestbury
Friday, January 04 2013, 4:41PM
“A quick way to improve life for pedestrians in the area is to get cars parked on pavements hit with a parking ticket. Much cheaper than pedestrianisation.”
by AndyPrestbury
Friday, January 04 2013, 4:40PM
“@daudji "The Uni(Scott) and local residents will together try to resolve the situation rather than just leaving anonymous comments and doing nothing" The thing is pedestrianising roads have an impact on more than just local residents. These cars and traffic will all have to end up going somewhere else. All the areas around St Pauls are also full to capacity so adding extra to them is going to cause extra misery for others. St Pauls as a community might benefit, but it may well be to the detriment to other surrounding communities and businesses.”
by whiteangeluk
Friday, January 04 2013, 3:18PM
“Perhaps the Uni can open the car park to help with the extra cars that students bring into the area, if only the council and MP at the time approx 15 years ago took note of all residents selling their family homes to people whom turn a 3 bedroom family home, into a house with up to six bedrooms.
If they had also allowed the uni to build more student hall of residents, there would not be this problem now. As when the Uni breaks up and students go home the roads around St Pauls are much clearer allowing people to park.
As a resident yes it would be nice to walk on pavement but please bear in mind these houses around in St Pauls were built in Victorian times, and most were workers homes. So pavements were not to wide nor were the streets as they never thought of cars being parked on both sides of the streets.
I wonder who's idea at the SPRA it is as i am sure there is better things that can be done in St Pauls to improve the area, as another reader stated cars will just go elsewhere to park either further away which will cause problems elsewhere. There is a back lane in Marle Hill Parade but not used due to the crime, fear of having car stolen or vandalised.
As for free space I don't know where he Scott thinks this is maybe Pittville park, again on April 26 a car free day where does he think people will park. I note non of our local councillors park their cars in this area, so yet again something will be given the go ahead, just like the mess of taking traffic lights out of a main road. Just to cause people that live in St Pauls a headache. Thanks.”
by straberries
Thursday, January 03 2013, 8:49PM
“Artists or artisans, was that a mis-reading of the history by Scott?
My family have lived here since 1803 when they moved into the nearly built Rutland Street built for the artisans with skills moving from places like Bristol.
My eldest living relative has lived in St Pauls for 85 years and can't remember any artists.
Please expand on these artists.”
by tishwash
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 6:19PM
“There are pavements for pedestrians, stop limiting where people can drive as you just push the problem to other places!
As for cutting crime to nothing, good luck, miracles wanted, enquire within.”
by daudji
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 12:51PM
“valhalla and Walker 100 I live in st pauls and as a pedestrian would like to use the pavements without feeling like an inconvenience to drivers the scheme is not Scott's but resident led and as far as I know all the people who have bothered to get involved with there community are in agreement that the current situation in Marlehill road is unacceptable The Uni(Scott) and local residents will together try to resolve the situation rather than just leaving anonymous comments and doing nothing”
by Walker100
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 11:19AM
“"Scott said: "One of the things we – St Paul's Residents Association (SPRA), the residents, and myself – have always been interested in, is in giving more priority to people and pedestrians, to look at ways of populating the streets with people, and find more of a balance between cars and traffic, the idea of 'living streets'."
The streets are already "living" streets. People live on them. And I wonder just how many people that are not "transitory" like the idea of temporary residents telling them how the area should be managed.
The students probably do not need vehicles as much as residents, if they can even afford to run them.”
by valhalla2010
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 10:33AM
“What happens if you live in St Pauls and need a car? Would that be okay with Scott?”
by daudji
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 8:56AM
“How refreshing to see the Uni and St Pauls working together Well done SPRA”