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Tuesday, 9th February 2010

Tithebarn: Full scale of resistance revealed

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Published Date: 06 July 2009
The true level of opposition against the £700m rebirth of Preston can be revealed.
Precise details of how developers want to renovate 37 acres of the city centre have been laid bare – two days before planning chiefs meet to debate the proposals.

In a 324-page plan for Preston's shopping, transport and leisure future, the Preston Tithebarn Partnership – made up of developers Grosvenor and Lendlease – has put forward its case for the large-scale demolition which will make way for a John Lewis department store, new bus station and a host of new shops, plus apartments and a revamped market.

But the much-debated £700m plans have been met with a string of comments – for and against – which can be unveiled for the first time.

Local authorities in Blackburn and Blackpool have already launched stiff opposition and are ready to take their contest all the way to a costly public inquiry.

And others have joined the list of opponents, many against the loss of the 30-year-old bus station.

The 16-member planning committee will meet at the Town Hall from 10am on Wednesday and at the same time on Tuesday July 14.

But the Lancashire Evening Post can now lift the lid on the extent of resistance across Lancashire and beyond.

A string of organisations have objected to the plans, which include knocking down the 30-year-old bus station.

Some even urge the council NOT to approve the plans.

The Victorian Society has branded the development "characterless," saying it would be "highly damaging to Preston's historic environment".

And the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) has urged the council not to grant planning permission due to the "monolithic nature of many of the blocks which appear to bring back a 1960s approach".

The Twentieth Century Society "strongly objects" to the demolition of the bus station, "a rare and irreplaceable piece of 20th century architecture."

In addition to objections from Blackpool and Blackburn, councils in Fylde, Wyre and Pendle have contested the plans for a variety of reasons including loss of trade.

But Preston Council says "the proposals will not have a significantly detrimental impact on either the existing city centre or any other centres in Lancashire, including Blackburn and Blackpool".

English Heritage says Tithebarn "represents a momentous opportunity for Preston", although it is concerned it is "very inward-looking" and has been "strongly led by retail and highway requirements".

Read our special two-page report - and find out what the experts think - about Tithebarn in Monday's Lancashire Evening Post

>> Tithebarn uncertainty will create 'ghost town'

>> Tithebarn development unearths Preston past

>> Vote in our latest web poll

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  • Last Updated: 17 July 2009 9:27 AM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Preston
  • Related Topics: Tithebarn
 
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graham nelson,

preston 06/07/2009 09:18:38
in short with the exception of english heritage all the usual suspects want nothing to change in preston.
2

leroy cains,

06/07/2009 09:20:10
The bottom line with this proposed development, and indeed all other similar concepts for the City, is, and remains, that it should be mothballed.

Mothballed indeed until such time as there is in place a fully operational integrated transport strategy, without which the City Centre and its immediate environs will soon simply choke to death.

Emphasis generally is often given, and rightly so, to the outstanding strategic location of the
wider City area and ease of access to national motorways and airports, as well as the countryside and local amenities and attractions. But without a vibrant heartbeat at the centre, the effectiveness of many development strategies will be greatly diminished, whilst, in the worst case scenario, some strategies may well simply just fail altogether.

To my knowledge, proposals for a comprehensive fully funded feasibility study of all the transport options available, (be they bus, guided bus, park & ride, Parry People Movers, train & tramway (rapid transport) etc. etc), have been around for well over 5 years now and such remains the overriding and urgent priority and first step.

But, to the public eye, at least, nothing has been done. Such is the vision!

Pivotal to such strategy should be the central bus/tram interchange based on a fully refurbished
& user friendly present Bus Station, whilst another similar facility may, ultimately, prove viable in the immediate vicinity of the Railway Station.

Plans to demolish the present Bus Station look, to most interested observers, ever more lunatic, (on many counts), as time passes. Those who, despite much & increasing public antipathy, continue to simply peddle such long outdated notions ad nauseam really do need an almighty “wake up call”.

Such “heads in the sand” attitudes do a great disservice to democracy and the community. Experience tells us that usually much is lost and little, if anything, gained. For example, the criminal destruction of the original Town Hall and
3

leroy cains,

06/07/2009 09:21:39
As always, time will be the judge. But, by then, the loss will be irretrievable, and those responsible gone!

Whilst in essence the Tithebarn development has very much its place, such must not be at the expense of the iconic Bus Station, and an alternative location must be found.

To date the Riversway (Docklands) development has been little short of a disaster and needs a complete revamp. A fresh start.

It does however provide one location, and there are others, which might provide a quintessential home for such as John Lewis and others of similar ilk.

But, first the area needs to be brought into the City as an integral part of the central mix. This can be achieved but only following the input of appropriate high speed & visible rapid transport links and a major international attraction and/or development draw
for the area.

Transport considerations apart, the Bristol Docklands experience, for one, needs to be studied and carefully evaluated. And, albeit on a much larger scale, London’s Canary Wharf & Salford Quays provide much which should give plenty of food for thought.
4

graham nelson,

preston 06/07/2009 09:29:11
iconic but not fit for the 21st century,is only half used for its main purposes.people want to preserve a car park.saints preserve us!
5

Mike(Tardy Gate),

Preston 06/07/2009 09:46:08
This project should not start until the transport infrastructure is completed. The Bus station should be relocated to the railway station (integrated transport solution) and the bus station should have a change of use and integrated into the tithebarn design. If you dont do this first then preston will be grid locked with construction traffic, and the infrastucture will never happen (e.g. we still dont have a metro link at the trafford centre)
6

P.L.E ,

06/07/2009 09:51:39
Come to Preston and learn how to take a once proud place. A place with character and charm, History another town or city would envy. A place I use to call home. Now being turned into the centre of excellence for cocking things up and making everybody miserable. Nobody minds change, but everybody minds not being listened to and being told what’s best for them, by somebody who hasn’t got a clue and does not really care about you, just as long as it on time and under budget. Money is there only reward. What next ?
7

Common Sense prevails,

Lancs 06/07/2009 09:58:38
Am I the only one who thinks the bus station is an utter monstrosity? Its impractical, inefficient and an eyesore. Sooner its gone the better.
8

Peregrine,

Ashton 06/07/2009 10:13:40
It wouldn't cost so much to make the bus station a secure and modern building, also it has a huge car park which would surely be needed by an increase in shopping outlets. Why not incorporate it in the Tithebarn project and build a ground breaking rapid transport link between the Bus and Train Station which would put Preston 'on the map'.

9

laffalot,

06/07/2009 11:26:35
I echo some of the above statements, money & property ownership is the driving force here, not the wishes of or what is best for the residents of Preston. Look around at the empty shops at the moment, do we need more of these? Look at new developements, notably the one on North Rd next to B&Q, empty apart from a bed shop, which I've never seen more than 3 people in it at once!!! Build right up to the bus station from St John's arcade & keep the opposite side open for buses. You keep a massive car park, cure crossing the "dangerous" apron & allow easy access to public transport. Also, make motorway access to Preston befitting a city, not 2 single lane roads!!!
10

leroy cains,

06/07/2009 11:28:54
Not fit for the 21st century; Only half used; Impractical; Inefficient; Seriously under utilised; Does not include modern facilities for passengers; People are reluctant to use the walkways; Instead, they walk across the bus apron causing safety fears

Yes, all descriptions of the present Bus Station, including four from the Preston City Council website. And just a few of the many being banded about. And yes, indeed, all very true.

But just what do all this varied bunch of complainants
have as the solution? Just one thing - demolition! And
that’s the full extent of the thinking! The Council view of course is a totally biased one for their own motives – Tithebarn regardless.

The major problem in Preston remains transport. The
present Bus Station, made user friendly & fully refurbished has a major part to play in the solution to that problem – as the prime bus/tram interchange. With that comes the refurbishment etc. etc. needed. And if, for instance, it was still too big, then some change of usage would solve that.

There is no finer example, in this area of the country, of such well thought out & common-sense (re)development than the former Manchester Central Railway Station.

When the former London to Manchester Midland Main Line
Railway was destroyed, it’s fair to say that the railway station, using Preston City Council parlance, became “seriously under utilised”! So, what did the authorities in Manchester do? Well they didn’t simply knock it down thoughtlessly or for their own biased ends.

No, first GMEX and now Manchester Central. A job very well done.

But, seemingly, we just don’t have that type of creative, common-sense or unbiased thinking in our City. And until we do, we will continue as a small time third rate borough.

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