Prince’s Foundation for Building Community

Hillsborough EbD Workshop

Kim Hitch

23rd April 2015 Image village

Why we are all here For the community to find out about what is

happening, get involved and make sure things happen

HRP wish to engage with the village about

how it develops its relationship with the community

LCCC is about to commence two major

projects - Tourism Master Plan - Public realm PFBC is helping us to look at opportunities

and issues for the community to: - map out a clear timetable for activities

going forward - start to bring together a coherent

engagement strategy The workshop over the last few days is the

start of this engagement processes

Why we are here

The purpose of the workshop • To explore, understand the context and issues

• To begin the process of developing ideas and

strategies

• To do this in a collaborative way with local residents and key stakeholders

• There are no preconceived ideas

• There will be further opportunities to feed into this process

• This is just the beginning!

How we work

• Listening – To your comments and concerns • Examination- We, together explore and test

the issues • Diagnosis- Looking at scenarios options and necessary

criteria • Remedy-

Suggest final options and responses

First public session feedback

First public session feedback

Overarching messages: • Traffic management • Parking • Public realm • Accessibility – local,

regional • Impact of Castle/ village

link – physical, economic, social

• Built environment – disrepair, vacancies

• Consultation

Traffic management and parking

• Traffic Speed restrictions suggested to counteract speeding • Promote the traffic links to Belfast and Lisburn • Lake and Forest parking improvements; under lots of pressure • Weight restrictions to continue to be enforced • Lack of parking for residents • Alternative will be needed if The Square parking stops • More parking required for use of the local amenities • Rush hour needs to be managed • Effort to reduce traffic noise needs to be actioned • Crossings at schools and improved parking – dangerous for pedestrians and drivers

Public Realm • Make recreational areas and facilities accessible to all

age ranges from young to old and visually promoted more • Synergy throughout the Village of pavements and walkway materials • Reduce authorities desire for flood lighting and move towards softer lighting means • HRP access lanes to be maintained for safety • Promotion of play area for locals and visitors • Signage to be improved and residents able to select what is promoted about their village e.g. Gold for Britain in Bloom • Statutory Body collaboration on matters such as CCTV, Litter Bins, Parking Notices and Lighting Columns

Accessibility • Wheelchair access to be improved – pavements to be

levelled • Maintain open access for residents to the Fort • Improve access to all recreational areas • Promote the use of the already popular amenities and parks • Protect the green areas and walks currently enjoyed • Minimise rush hour traffic and flow through the Village • Lake and Forest facilities to be improved e.g. toilets • Link with the Forest to be promoted; educational resource and well as a recreational area • Cycle trails to be created and linked into the wider area

Impact of Castle/ Village link • Two way engagement between HRP and the Community • Local art and craft items could be commissioned and sold

within the Castle • Art classes and traditional craft tuition could be held within the Castle to compliment the existing skills already present within the Village • Costumes Characters could be used to bring the heritage to life • Free entry ‘Family and Friend’ Day for Local Residents • HRP to work with the Travel Industry to promote longer stops at Hillsborough to encourage and allow visitors to not only enjoy the Castle but the Village as well • Future proofing for additional vehicle numbers if there is an increase

Business and events • Develop a theme or brand for future events which are held

in Hillsborough • Improve arrangements for Oyster Festival • Recreation to be more accessible with the Fort regularly open • Traditional businesses to be brought back into the Village • Relocation of pop-up businesses – Chip Van location • Look to make Hillsborough part of Northern Ireland’s heritage • Noise Pollution from the Castle functions and events to be considered and curtailed

Built environment • New uses for the ex Council Offices and Post Office could

be adopted rather than remaining vacant • Desire to reinstate traditional businesses into Hillsborough • Promotion of stone boundary walls and sash windows to be brought back to buildings • Erosion of the historic features and fabrics of the buildings is occurring which is distressing to local residents

Consultation • Lack of community consultation • Local businesses left out of the process • No consultation with local farming community

Workshop day

• Presentations: – Hillsborough Castle history, new

discoveries, HRP plans – Public realm – Destination management plan – The community perspective

• Two site visits • Break out groups • Feedback

HRP- Plans and opportunities

Car park delivered 2017

Full opening 2019

Community comments • What is happening? • When is it happening? • Can there be an overarching programme showing all

activities by each partner? • Who is coordinating everything? • Clear communication – steering group representing

all parties or a single point of contact? • Key consultation dates planned in advance • How will it affect us?

Hillsborough Tourism Master Plan WHAT MIGHT BE INCLUDED? Visitor Destination Management Plan – a series of recommendations for future developments

• Develop the landscape, cultural and heritage assets • Build a brand, image and identity • Marketing and promotions in new markets • Creating and building an exceptional visitor experience • Introduce new technology for tourism • Improving access to and within the village • Developing strong partnerships and networks

Project Implementation and Action Plan

Tourism Master Plan Timeline (12 weeks)

• Appoint Consultants – end of April • Information gathering - May/June • Consultation with local tourism providers, community and

other interested stakeholders – June • Policy Appraisal – June/ July • Formulate Strategy - July • Final Hillsborough Tourism Master Plan – August • DARD Strategic Project application – August • Ongoing delivery of Tourism Master Plan

recommendations – up to 10 years!

Public Realm Scheme

• Providing an improved environment through upgraded paving and new road surface treatments

• Strengthening the visual and physical linkages including connections to the Castle, Fort, Lake and Forest Park

• Create an environment which is welcoming to local people and visitors and which promotes increased length of stay by day and after dark

• Addressing concerns in relation to parked and moving vehicles, promoting an increasingly safe environment.

Public Realm Scheme Timeline

• Initial Consultations with community and other interested stakeholders – May/June

• Design Development – May to September • Further Consultations on Design – August/September

• Planning Approval Process – October to January • Construction – Commence Autumn 2016 (subject to

funding)

Connectivity • Measures to reduce vehicle movement in

village centre – new Castle estate car park • Reducing heavy vehicles in village centre • Improve cycle connectivity and tourism • Improve linkages between assets – village

heritage and famous people trails • Open up underused assets like the Forest

– trails and play facilities • Landmarks on A1 approaches inc

Monument • Optimise use of heritage assets –

courthouse; fort • Regional Tourism Links • Appropriate and good quality signage • Creative Industries Development Plan • Appropriate well managed events • Improved links to Sports Clubs – bid of

national events

Weaknesses • Inefficient parking for residents and

businesses

• Difficult road junctions and narrow roads leading to congestion – noise and weight of large vehicles • Poor quality and badly maintained pavements • Poor pedestrian connectivity and access through the village e.g. access to Fort and grounds

Analysis and Objectives

Overall aims are to • Strengthen distinctive sense of place • Rationalise and manage parking –

appropriate balance between residents, employees and visitors. Residents permit parking? • Improve quality of environment by day and after dark • Strengthen important pedestrian linkages • Enhance key nodes at The Square and Church • Improve social and economic vibrancy

Opportunities for links between Castle and Village

• Encourage visitors to move between Castle and village – links to Village Heritage Trails and Forest Park trails • Walled Garden – Potential for education, training, employment and volunteering • Education and Learning Programmes – local people involved – Clore Learning Centre • Gardening and Food Production – volunteers; links to restaurants • Sell local products in commercial outlets in Castle • Integration of Fort and Courthouse into village and tourism planning

Enhancement of Public Realm -

The Square • Traffic Calming Measures – reduce

speed; increase safety

• Redress the balance in the Square back to pedestrians/cyclists/public transport users

• Enhance strong physical and visual links to Castle from the village

• Remove car parking from the Square

The Square - initial response

Communications - next steps 1. Set up a partners’ Steering Group 2. The community to organise itself to agree how it

wants to be represented 3. Who else needs to be involved, and how should they

be consulted? – Other consultation/ partners??

Transport NI Tourism NI Churches and Schools Tourism Ireland Local Sports Clubs Sustrans Outdoor Recreation NI NIEA DARD: Forest Service AFBI

Communications – a suggestion

Children, Families, Commuters, Working in the locality, Elderly, Retired

Residents, Traders and Businesses, Communities, Farmers, Sports Clubs, Churches, &, &, &…….

Village Committee Strategy Group The Old Guard Churches x 7+ Business/ traders Sports Clubs School Residents The Women’s Institute &, &, &….

Who are we engaging with?

Who are the community?

How is the community now?

Steering Group

How are we organising ourselves?

Independent chair?

Community

HRP

LCCC

Co-ordinating activities, engagement, communication

Next steps • Set up Steering Group • Agree communications plan • Confirm priorities and agree a consolidated

programme of activities for the Steering Group • Plan and co-ordinate consultation events

Some early activities… • Progress residents’ priorities – e.g. traffic, parking,

business opportunities, access to open spaces • Combined audit of users • Review parking issues • Review signage issues • Make presentation available through community

website, partners’ websites

Thank you

Any questions?