Old Market Hereford

[Colin James]

Here is a link to the Old Market Website, I thought that they would of come up with a more modern attractive name other than 'Old Market' and I was expecting new modern glass fronted buildings, but it looks like it's mainly bricks..

Why on earth has nobody had the sense to built a glass roofed 'footbridge' from the new 'Old Market' complex over the main road directly into Maylord Orchards or somewhere near Tesco's? Thus having the best of both worlds and connecting the City Centre, instead of possibly isolating it. (This is what they have done at Cabot Circus in Bristol and it works perfectly) This would also be safer for pedestrians, and would also not interfere with the traffic flow by having pedestrian lights stopping the traffic.

 

Anyway, you make up your own minds and have a look at the animation Old Market Hereford - Check Out The Animation

 

You can also view the webcam

[Colin James]

Here is a map showing the full layout

[Colin James]

I have written a letter today to the HT as follows;

 

'Old Market' Hereford

 

I thought that they would of come up with a more modern attractive name other than 'Old Market' and I was expecting new modern glass fronted buildings, but I feel disappointed as it looks like it's mainly bricks...

 

More importantly, why on earth has nobody had the sense to built a glass roofed 'footbridge' from the new 'Old Market' complex over the main road directly into Maylord Orchards? Thus having the best of both worlds and connecting the City Centre, instead of possibly isolating it. (This is what they have done at Cabot Circus in Bristol and it works perfectly) This would also be safer for pedestrians, and would also not interfere with the traffic flow by having pedestrian lights stopping the traffic.

 

This is being discussed now on our website www.herefordvoice.co.uk why not join in the debate!

 

 

[Biomech]

Indeed.

 

I'm not sure if I like the roof yet, it reeks of "Old Market" not new. I can't make up my mind if it's just poor design or the architect/s keeping some of the old market in - as it so clearly resembles the old cattle buildings that were knocked down with it's |\|\|\ shape.

 

I wonder if they have found anyone to fill in the empty units .... which make up the majority

http://herefordoldlivestockmarket.co.uk/retails.aspx

[Bill Thomas]

Here is a link to the Old Market Website, I thought that they would of come up with a more modern attractive name other than 'Old Market' and I was expecting new modern glass fronted buildings, but it looks like it's mainly bricks..

omlogo.png

Why on earth has nobody had the sense to built a glass roofed 'footbridge' from the new 'Old Market' complex over the main road directly into Maylord Orchards? Thus having the best of both worlds and connecting the City Centre, instead of possibly isolating it. (This is what they have done at Cabot Circus in Bristol and it works perfectly) This would also be safer for pedestrians, and would also not interfere with the traffic flow by having pedestrian lights stopping the traffic.

 

Anyway, you make up your own minds and have a look at the animation Old Market Hereford - Check Out The Animation

 

You can also view the webcam

This is a very good idea Colin, I had not even considered that

[Mick]

I really do like the idea of a covered footbridge across the main road, this will also connect the new shopping centre with the main shops in the city, excellent idea Colin     

[Glenda Powell]

I actually put the suggestion forward for a covered footbridge at the council meeting in April, I also wrote in the press where I received many responses agreeing with me, unfortunately when I put it to the full council meeting my suggestion was IGNORED!!!

I also feel the shopping centre should be called Hereford Bull shopping centre after all our bull is known the world over.Also put the bull from High Town in the entrance to the centre.

[Frank Smith]

Well I think now that Colin has got this new forum up and running, maybe we can all collectively put some pressure on the council for Colin's suggestion of a footbridge, he actually asked about this back last year in this topic

[P. Rowe]

Good letter Colin, lets hope that the ht prints it next week.

[Glenda Powell]

Frank, the bridge was first brought up when councillors first saw the designs which was in 2011, it has been brought up at council meetings by other councillors and myself ever since, as I said the suggestion/requests for a bridge instead of a pedestrian crossing has been ignored, so if they dont take any notice of the councillors they will not take notice of the general public!!

[twowheelsgood]

Surely the OLM development is offset from Maylords? Unless you were thinking off running it diagonally - that would be some sort of bridge. Developers won't be interested - why give shoppers a route away from their shops to someone else's? Remember this is a private development - the council lost all control once they'd sold the land for a bag of peanuts and some loose change (rather than its original valuation of £30m).

[bobby47]

Sadly, TwoWheels is right, this is entirely about directing whatever spending power we have left in this bereft of hope City, toward the new development. There, we'll spend our deminishing funds, we'll sit there in our new cinema muttering, 'thank God we lived to see this lovely cinema', and our money will leave the City, it'll be spent far away from our economy and little of the wages earned will be spent here and recycled within our own economy.

That's pretty much the scenario that our economic model will take us. Shortsighted, opportunistic, economic madness and our only consolation will be, we can sit inside a cinema and contemplate when we can next see the kids who moved away long ago because they couldn't build a future on 19k a year salary because the Council, the big payers, were no longer recruiting.

[Colin James]

They had the opportunity to build a footbridge when Maylord's and the multi-storey car park were built, so what was the excuse back then?

Poor planning! This should of been part of the planning conditions/agreement for the new Old Market development, no wonder the retailers in the City Centre are fed up! I still think it should be considered and I will be doing all I can to draw attention to this simple compromise with existing traders and connecting the two.

 

The multi-storey was built mainly for Maylord Orchards, this car park now serves both, so I cannot see what the problem is to be honest. A glass roofed footbridge directly from the multi-storey car park.

 

Shoppers, retailers and visitors to our City would have the best of both worlds, they can visit the Cathedral and the surrounding pretty cobbled streets, admire the Old House and City Centre but with ample parking and direct access to the Old Market Development and Cinema's etc, It's a no brainer  

[twowheelsgood]

Colin, I hate to disagree with you, but I fear you're wasting your time. Firstly, Maylords has its own car park - the multi-storey wasn't built to serve it. Secondly, the span from the multi-storey to some landing point in Maylords is massive - a bridge would cost tens of millions (look at the Greenway bridge - £3m and rising and no roof!). Thirdly, it would fly over the City Wall - English Heritage would never allow it. Fourthly, Maylords - privately owned - wouldn't have it as it could draw shoppers away from them. Fifthly, who would pay for it? OLM have got their cosy deal and all they want for next to nothing. Maylords is struggling. Council ain't got a bean - gave the last 0.5m of them to OLM. Forget it folks, it ain't never going to happen. Concentrate on making the streets safer and more attractive to walk through. IF they follow through with Blueschool Street traffic calming that will go a long way, but that relies on the road to nowhere that’s probably never going to be fully built ...

[Biomech]

A subway from Widemarsh street to the OLM would be nice.

[Colin James]

Colin, I hate to disagree with you, but I fear you're wasting your time. Firstly, Maylords has its own car park - the multi-storey wasn't built to serve it. Secondly, the span from the multi-storey to some landing point in Maylords is massive - a bridge would cost tens of millions (look at the Greenway bridge - £3m and rising and no roof!). Thirdly, it would fly over the City Wall - English Heritage would never allow it. Fourthly, Maylords - privately owned - wouldn't have it as it could draw shoppers away from them. Fifthly, who would pay for it? OLM have got their cosy deal and all they want for next to nothing. Maylords is struggling. Council ain't got a bean - gave the last 0.5m of them to OLM. Forget it folks, it ain't never going to happen. Concentrate on making the streets safer and more attractive to walk through. IF they follow through with Blueschool Street traffic calming that will go a long way, but that relies on the road to nowhere that’s probably never going to be fully built ...

 

Upon reflection you are probably right, so annoying that these planners never thought it through properly in the first instance. I travel the country with my job and other cities seem to have a better understanding of how to make it work, I appreciate it is a bigger city but Cabot Circus in Bristol is a perfect example of how it should be done in my opinion. Modern glass buildings that are attractive and easily accessable, I was totally in favour of a new modern shopping complex with cinema etc in Hereford but all I see at the moment is an ever increasing large red brick wall with a roof that almost replicates the old cattle market or some industrial units in Rotherwas...   

[Biomech]

To be honest Colin, I said it many times on HT before I was executed... it has become absolutely clear that the council had planned to scrap the city centre from the start. When you weigh up the evidence it's clear to see that they never had any intention of renovating the center, they wanted to shift the center and start again from scratch.

 

 

First there was the Left Bank / Riverside, plans put forward to renovate, project scrapped.

Eign Gate - OLM end, renovated instead

 

 

Broad Street - Opposite end, plans put forward to renovate, project scrapped. in favour of...

Widemarsh Street, OLM end, renovated
 

 

River Island burnt down, city center - site is still under construction (3?) years later.

The Crystal Rooms closed down. Lay dormant for several years. Now occupied by a small beauty salon.

 

If it's not on the OLM side of town, they've left you to the dogs.
(Chadds area for example, with the lovely demolished vista of the old Subway sandwich place for everyone to gaze at as the drive through the city)


There are some nice areas in Bristol, but I'm not a fan, the traffic is always horrendous. However, I am a big fan of Cardiff, the place looks fantastic and I go there shopping and for nights out quite often

[Colin James]

To be honest Colin, I said it many times on HT before I was executed... it has become absolutely clear that the council had planned to scrap the city centre from the start. When you weigh up the evidence it's clear to see that they never had any intention of renovating the center, they wanted to shift the center and start again from scratch.

 

 

First there was the Left Bank / Riverside, plans put forward to renovate, project scrapped.

Eign Gate - OLM end, renovated instead

 

 

Broad Street - Opposite end, plans put forward to renovate, project scrapped. in favour of...

Widemarsh Street, OLM end, renovated

 

 

River Island burnt down, city center - site is still under construction (3?) years later.

The Crystal Rooms closed down. Lay dormant for several years. Now occupied by a small beauty salon.

 

If it's not on the OLM side of town, they've left you to the dogs.

(Chadds area for example, with the lovely demolished vista of the old Subway sandwich place for everyone to gaze at as the drive through the city)

 

 

There are some nice areas in Bristol, but I'm not a fan, the traffic is always horrendous. However, I am a big fan of Cardiff, the place looks fantastic and I go there shopping and for nights out quite often

 

If you get the opportunity go and have a look at Cabot Circus but yes Cardiff is also another great place to shop   

[Biomech]

Obviously Horrorford is no major city like Cardiff, so I wouldn't expect the place to look like Central London or Newcastles Metro Centre - unfortunately, that's what the HC are trying to mimic.

Personally, I think the style of Worcester would suit Horrorford the best. Worcester have built on the features and quality of what they have already. Quaint backstreets with black and white shops dripping with flowers from hanging baskets, there's a busy, popular, visual, personal air to Worcesters shopping. http://goo.gl/maps/TmDbU

It just comes back to the same thing again, the HC have scrapped Hereford to start again with glass rather than renovate and build on the features of the city.

 

But the HC don't care about building business here, they'd rather buy in prefab businesses from other countries.

[Victor Wright]

I thought this was the latest most up to date shopping centre coming to Hereford but it look like a lot of bricks, after reading Colin's post I had a look when I was in town today, I thought on that main bend it would be all modern glass but its all brick? Looks vile 

 

This is what I was expecting 

[magicroundabout]

Wholeheartedly agree with you Colin. 

 

Not surprised but sad Glenda was ignored again when she asked at a council meeting about a safe way to access the concrete monstrosity.

 

Why are pedestrians not considered?

The day the McAlpine barriers went up round Edgar Street and Newmarket Street to protect the precious development and take the pavement away from human beings, I was astounded.  No signs have been placed to help the poor pedestrian who wants to go from Edgar Street into Newmarket Street - they are on their own.  The pedestrian crossing was closed - full stop.  What council leader would agree to let developers take away the safety of the pavement from their residents? 

Hereford's would -or rather the descriptive "Horrorford" as per Biomech.

I have started writing formal complaints directly to the highways and planning department.  I don't expect to receive a positive reaction from the planning department but will give them a chance.  The complaints are logged and don't look good. 

Otherwise it will be elections time in 2015.  I always vote and have a very good memory.       

[twowheelsgood]

Wholeheartedly agree with magicroundabout. However, its nothing to do with planning as such - the highways dept have responsibility for our safety on road and pavement. Oh wait - that was Amey, now Balfour Butter ... but the Council do have half a dozen staff - the ridiculously nomenclatured 'client side'  - who are supposed to call the shots to the 'preferred partner' - suggest you email boss Clive Hall direct with your/our concerns cwhall@herefordshire.gov.uk and update us on any response.

[Colin James]

Wholeheartedly agree with you Colin. 

 

Not surprised but sad Glenda was ignored again when she asked at a council meeting about a safe way to access the concrete monstrosity.

 

Why are pedestrians not considered?

The day the McAlpine barriers went up round Edgar Street and Newmarket Street to protect the precious development and take the pavement away from human beings, I was astounded.  No signs have been placed to help the poor pedestrian who wants to go from Edgar Street into Newmarket Street - they are on their own.  The pedestrian crossing was closed - full stop.  What council leader would agree to let developers take away the safety of the pavement from their residents? 

Hereford's would -or rather the descriptive "Horrorford" as per Biomech.

I have started writing formal complaints directly to the highways and planning department.  I don't expect to receive a positive reaction from the planning department but will give them a chance.  The complaints are logged and don't look good. 

Otherwise it will be elections time in 2015.  I always vote and have a very good memory.       

 

 

Wholeheartedly agree with magicroundabout. However, its nothing to do with planning as such - the highways dept have responsibility for our safety on road and pavement. Oh wait - that was Amey, now Balfour Butter ... but the Council do have half a dozen staff - the ridiculously nomenclatured 'client side'  - who are supposed to call the shots to the 'preferred partner' - suggest you email boss Clive Hall direct with your/our concerns cwhall@herefordshire.gov.uk and update us on any response.

 

Yes Glenda was ignored yet again! I will be eager to see their response magicroundabout (do not know your name)   

[ragwert]

I actually put the suggestion forward for a covered footbridge at the council meeting in April, I also wrote in the press where I received many responses agreeing with me, unfortunately when I put it to the full council meeting my suggestion was IGNORED!!!

I also feel the shopping centre should be called Hereford Bull shopping centre after all our bull is known the world over.Also put the bull from High Town in the entrance to the centre.

Nice of you to think our disabled friends with your footbridge Glenda

[ragwert]

Just come across this http://www.pinterest.com/oakwrights/pavilion-one-coffee-house-in-the-old-livestock-mar/

[Colin James]

Colin, I hate to disagree with you, but I fear you're wasting your time. Firstly, Maylords has its own car park - the multi-storey wasn't built to serve it. Secondly, the span from the multi-storey to some landing point in Maylords is massive - a bridge would cost tens of millions (look at the Greenway bridge - £3m and rising and no roof!). Thirdly, it would fly over the City Wall - English Heritage would never allow it. Fourthly, Maylords - privately owned - wouldn't have it as it could draw shoppers away from them. Fifthly, who would pay for it? OLM have got their cosy deal and all they want for next to nothing. Maylords is struggling. Council ain't got a bean - gave the last 0.5m of them to OLM. Forget it folks, it ain't never going to happen. Concentrate on making the streets safer and more attractive to walk through. IF they follow through with Blueschool Street traffic calming that will go a long way, but that relies on the road to nowhere that’s probably never going to be fully built ...

 

I have had a re-think about this footbridge idea and I still think they could of built some sort of enclosed footbridge, okay maybe not into Maylord Orchards from the multi storey maybe that was a bit ambitious but certainly over the main road somewhere towards Tesco, there is land for sale at the back of Saxty's or at least there was near the bowling green, that would of at least connected the two shopping centre's, I do not think that the cost would of been massive and as for the Hereford City Wall and English Heritage never allowing it, I do not think they would of objected too much because they allowed this little lot. 

 

We no longer have subways to go underneath the ring road and at least this would prevent the traffic having to STOP like it does now with this use of pedestrian traffic lights, keeping the city connected and traffic flowing

[megilleland]

But the traffic wouldn't have to stop if we had shared space Colin. What is going to make the Widemarsh Gateway complicated to cross will be traffic turning right out Tesco and traffic turning right from Blueschool Street to go up Widemarsh Street The addition of these 2 extra turnings will only add more traffic lights!!

[Colin James]

But the traffic wouldn't have to stop if we had shared space Colin. What is going to make the Widemarsh Gateway complicated to cross will be traffic turning right out Tesco and traffic turning right from Blueschool Street to go up Widemarsh Street The addition of these 2 extra turnings will only add more traffic lights!!

 

I am with you Martin and I am sure you have seen our campaign Hereford Reunited No Lights Equal Rights but still think a footbridge would also help.

[twowheelsgood]

Much was made during the selling of this proposal to the masses of 'connectivity' between old and new, with big arrows on drawings to link Eign Gate and Bewell Street with the OLM - and much more as outlined in the 2007 Edgar Street Grid Design Framework Supplementary Planning Document, against which the application should have been determined. 

 

Yet, somehow, all we've ended up with is a typically crass highway engineers solution - pedestrian cattle pens to herd pedestrians across a dual carriageway where the subway was, and not much else. 

[ragwert]

Anyone know exactly what they have proposed to do with the redevelopment of Newmarket St?
The way I see it after reading up is it will be shared space with one set of pedestrian lights by JD's and one set by Tesco's, also a 20 mph max speed.