Talk of the Towns

Halstead

www.talkofthetowns.co.uk

You said...“285 people completed our surveysabout Halstead Town Centreimprovements.

Thank you for your comments andhere is what you said...”

Town centre

Halstead

What one thingdo you like aboutHalstead towncentre?

The range ofindependent shops. It isn’t like every othertown.

It’s never too far fromone shop to another, ithas a small containedHigh Street.

Cafés where you can sitoutside in the summer.

I love the picturesqueriver with the floraldisplays along its banks.The Townsford Mill is asnapshot of Halstead inany advertisement.

Its small town charm andsense of community.

It feels welcoming andlooked after with theflowers in the summerand the Christmas treeand lights in the winter.

Its character andtraditional buildings.

inde

pend

ent sho

ps

compa

ct

unique character of the to

wn

friendly pe

ople

flower displays and plants

variety of sho

ps

attractive shop

s

within walking

distance

0

10

5

20

15

40

35

30

25

4542

35

29

33

28

18

13

11

Num

ber of com

ments

What one thingdo you dislikeabout Halstead?

lack of variety of sho

ps

empty shop

s

lack of p

arking

cong

estion

HGV’s in to

wn

0

10

30

20

40

50

70

60

48

68

26

12

25 Num

ber of com

ments

Lack of variety ofshops- too manycharity shops, indianrestaurants andhairdressers.

Parking charges forshort stay periods.

There are too manyempty shops.

Finding a car parking space.

Heavy through traffic isdestroying the ability toshop comfortably.

Supermarkets are toosmall, you can't getwhat you want.

What three thingswould make themost difference?

More diverse range of shopswould stop me having to goelsewhere to get essentials.

Need free parking during shopopening hours to bring people in.

Less duplicate businesses,unique shops & a bypass.

Give any new small business a rates free period for 6-12months.

Brand name shops, freeparking, better market

Better choice of qualityindependent stores.

Lower high street rents, moreparking and less take aways.

It needs more seating areas inthe high street and moregreenery.

Getting shop owners todecorate and improve theirshop fronts.

Serious consideration for abypass to be built in order toreduce the amount of HGVsgoing through the town centre.

A larger more vibrant marketand regular events in the town.

better variety of sho

psfre

e pa

rking

better parking

better quality market

more pa

rking

pede

strian crossing

at the to

p of th

e town

more market stalls

more inde

pend

ant sho

pscreate a bypass to re

duce traffic th

roug

h the town

redu

ce business rates

more trees/seats

another or a bigger supe

rmarket

0

20

40

80

60

100

65

108

47

3839

34 33 3331 29

27 26

Num

ber of com

ments

Do you have anyother ideas forimproving thetown centre?

A better mix of recognisedhigh street names like Argos,Peacocks and Star Bucks.

If people could buyeverything in Halstead, therewould be no need to shopout of town.

Make use of empty shopsand reduce business rates toencourage small businessesto come into the town.

Decent public toilets in thetown centre.

Build a bypass to reduceamount of HGV's goingthrough the town.

Better quality restaurants,less take aways.

Some shop fronts need"tarting up".

A new community centre.

Places of entertainment for young children andteenagers.

big retailers sho

ps

better quality of sho

ps

fill in em

pty shop

s

more pu

blic to

ilets

more social events/commun

ity activities

ban or limit HGVs go

ing throug

h the town

better quality of re

stauraunts

better sho

p fro

nts

0

5

10

20

15

25

30

23

25

23

16

20

15

11 11

Num

ber of com

ments

Ideas forimprovingHalstead towncentreWe asked...There could be more shops/ a newsupermarket, extra parking and additionalhousing in a redevelopment of nearly fiveacres of hidden land behind the high street.

At the top of the hill (Market Hill), a sharedspace could be created for the market andto alert motorists to the need forpedestrians to cross safely. Through achange of materials, lighting set into thekerbline and one or two more trees,motorists and pedestrians instinctively takemore care. It’s an idea that already workswell in many European towns.

New lighting could highlight the publicgardens and fountain on Market Hill.

11%

13%

25%

51%like the idea

don't like the ideaNeither like nordislike this idea

no answer

11%

6%

13%

70% like the idea don't like the idea

Neither like nordislike this idea

no answer

15%

25%

12%

48%like the idea

don't like the ideaNeither like nordislike this idea

no answer

A greater range of shops including someretail brand names will attract more peopleinto the town centre

Small independent shops give the towncharacter

The market is important to me and shouldbe improved

I find it difficult to cross the main roadthrough Halstead

I think halstead benefits from through traffic

I think we need to discourage heavy trafficthrough Halstead

Improved parking in the town centre wouldattract more people to shop

Promotional offers on parking wouldencourage me to shop in the town centre

35%

6%9%

3%

47%

30%

2%7%

59%

35%

1%

2%9%

54%

36%

8%9%

23%

24%

32%

9%

5%12%

42%

36%

8%

0%

10%

46%

30%

12%4%

23%

31%

Strongly agreeAgree

DisagreeStrongly disagree

No response

Strongly agreeAgree

DisagreeStrongly disagree

No response

Strongly agreeAgree

DisagreeStrongly disagree

No response

Strongly agreeAgree

DisagreeStrongly disagree

No response

Strongly agreeAgree

DisagreeStrongly disagree

No response

Strongly agreeAgree

DisagreeStrongly disagree

No responseStrongly agree

AgreeDisagree

Strongly disagreeNo response

26%

11%11%9%

43%Strongly agree

AgreeDisagree

Strongly disagreeNo response

Tell us what else you think is importantto improving Halstead town centre?

When parking in the town the mostimportant things are :

It should be easy for people who live within5 miles of Halstead to cycle or bus into town

Occasional town centre attractions orevents eg continental markets will helpboost enjoyment of the town

Recharging points for electric vehicleswould benefit the town

Better town signage will help visitors andmotorists more easily get around town

Commercial deliveries would only take placeat off-peak times

People like to see more trees in towncentres

9%

34%

3%

41%

13%

Strongly agreeAgree

DisagreeStrongly disagree

No response

10%

40%

6%

31%

13%

Strongly agreeAgree

DisagreeStrongly disagree

No response

3%

35%

9%

41%

12%

Strongly agreeAgree

DisagreeStrongly disagree

No response

12%

34%

5%

38%

11%

Strongly agreeAgree

DisagreeStrongly disagree

No response

1%

39%

10%

45%

5%

Strongly agreeAgree

DisagreeStrongly disagree

No response

10%

46%

11%

29%

4%

Strongly agreeAgree

DisagreeStrongly disagree

No response

having

the same de

alwherever I park

being close to m

yde

stination

finding

a spa

ce easily

a short free stop

not h

aving to worry abo

utho

w long

I take

0

20

40

60

140

120

100

80

47

56

120 125 128

Num

ber of com

ments