© Paddock Wood Town Council 2009 Developing the Future of Paddock Wood A document for discussion March

© Paddock Wood Town Council 2009  This document is a summary of informal discussions between Paddock Wood Town Councillors at the end of  The objective is to provide a starting point for the residents and businesses of the town to discuss the future development of Paddock Wood.  We would like to hear your comments so please to or by writing to: The Clerk. Paddock Wood Town Council, The Podmore Building, St Andrew’s Field, Paddock Wood. 2

© Paddock Wood Town Council 2009  What is Regeneration? ◦ To Enhanced ◦ To Improve ◦ On going ◦ Looking Forward  What are our Constraints? ◦ Time frame – within the next 20 years ◦ Imposed Development – housing/industrial ◦ Infrastructure – school/commercial/jobs ◦ Communications – roads/car parking/rail ◦ Topography – part of the town is on the flood plain 3

© Paddock Wood Town Council 2009  Imposed housing development ◦ Tunbridge Wells Borough Council – will have to allow 6000 new homes in the next 20 years  Paddock Wood – unknown quantity/impact  Mix of more affordable & private housing  Land for building ◦ Restricted – (see Local Development Framework)  Town centre: Area behind Barsley’s (in private ownership)  Allotment sites  Green Lane II  Church Farm  Greenbelt: area around Baxall’s, Badsell Road  Industrial areas (much of this is on the flood plain) 4

© Paddock Wood Town Council

 St Andrews Field ◦ Restricted building community use ◦ No housing allowed  Allotment sites ◦ PWTC have a number of sites that have been cultivated over many years ◦ Would not be acceptable to the public or the TC to be developed 6

© Paddock Wood Town Council 2009  Hop Pocket (Planning permission now granted) ◦ Small infill development ◦ Improvement in facilities for town ◦ New Pub  Family orientated  Good food  Green Lane II ◦ Phase 2 of the Green Lane development  Green field site  Mostly private housing  Only min affordable housing developed  Outskirts of town 7

© Paddock Wood Town Council 2009  Town Centre Site behind Commercial Road ◦ Large area ◦ Centre of town close to all amenities ◦ Preferred option of choice  Church Farm ◦ Green field site  No existing development  Closer to town centre 8

© Paddock Wood Town Council

 Accepted need for development of housing ◦ Housing to be a good mix of private and affordable ◦ Will fund improvement of town centre ◦ Lead to improved facilities: e.g. community centre, new school, swimming pool ◦ Lead to improve infrastructure: bus services, increase of population using shops, farmers market 10

© Paddock Wood Town Council 2009  Mixed development ◦ Commercial & Housing: ◦ Potential site of Community Centre & library  Suggestions ◦ Rename Commercial Road (High Street?) ◦ Traffic; make one way flow ◦ Create pedestrian area between car parks and war memorial 11

© Paddock Wood Town Council 2009  Currently owned by TWBC ◦ Possibility of PWTC ownership?  Currently used by CAB & as function hall ◦ Keys held at council office and Putlands ◦ Under used ◦ Needs refurbishment  Potential site for improved community facilities and library 12

© Paddock Wood Town Council 2009 ◦ Drop in centre ◦ Library ◦ Keep fit ◦ PWTC Office ◦ CAB ◦ Social Functions ◦ Kitchen & Bar area ◦ Play Group ◦ Stage/cinema ◦ Car park ◦ Exhibition area ◦ Youth Centre What goes on in a community centre? 13

© Paddock Wood Town Council 2009  Currently available: ◦ Mascalls (KCC)  Questions: is it being fully utilised?  Problems: staffed during the day, in the wrong place ◦ What do the Youth of PW want?  Need to factor in drop in centre with redevelopment (as identified by the Succeed Group) 14

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© Paddock Wood Town Council 2009  St. Andrews ◦ TC Office and separate building; replace by multifunctional building, playing field  Community Centre  New TC Office  Gardens 16

© Paddock Wood Town Council 2009  Badsell Road Meadows ◦ Paddock Wood JFC ◦ Scouts/Guides/Cubs/Browinies ◦ Benefits:  Strong Environmental links, organic orchards,  Foal Hurst Woods close by 17

© Paddock Wood Town Council 2009  Foal Hurst Wood (Nature Reserve) ◦ Expansion plans to other areas of the town  Area back of Green Lane  Other wilderness areas in the parish 18

© Paddock Wood Town Council

© Paddock Wood Town Council 2009  Concerns/suggestions: ◦ Speeding: ◦ review traffic calming measures/child & pedestrian safety ◦ may be changes in the next 4/5 years ◦ 20 MPH Zone ◦ Commercial Road, pedestrian zone or one way traffic flow ◦ More traffic controlled crossings  Allington Road: at bridge junction  Church road: at Waitrose & Dimmock Close  Eldon Way/Nursery Rd : Traffic lights or roundabout (particularly if further industrial development goes ahead) ◦ Latest traffic lights to be used 20

© Paddock Wood Town Council 2009  Concerns/suggestions: ◦ New cycle lanes & more cycle parking ◦ Increased traffic if town centre development goes ahead ◦ Footpath network: path renovation, lighting, overgrown vegetation ◦ Total town residential parking zone 21

© Paddock Wood Town Council 2009  Encourage greater use of bus routes ◦ More bus shelters ◦ Hopper bus around town to station (community & commuters use) ◦ Increase frequency and reliability of existing services ◦ Link with train departures and arrivals ◦ Possible increase of services when new Pembury Hospital opens 22

© Paddock Wood Town Council 2009  Increased parking at the station  Improve traffic circulation in and out of station  Increase off-peak frequency of trains  Maintain Medway Valley Line and connections to Gatwick 23

© Paddock Wood Town Council 2009  Recycling observations ◦ Eastern car park –being used extensively; can it be more efficient? ◦ Another area for recycling? ◦ Putlands – is it being used efficiently? ◦ Door step collections – should improved volume & sorting ◦ Sunday amenity lorry – essential but need to stop trades using it unless they pay on the day ◦ North Farm recycling centre – too far way 24

© Paddock Wood Town Council

© Paddock Wood Town Council 2009  Redevelopment of Town Centre ◦ Mix of housing/commercial  Improve community facilities ◦ Community centre in town centre or at St Andrews Field ◦ Relocate Council Office to new community centre  Improve infrastructure ◦ Road safety ◦ Efficiency 26

© Paddock Wood Town Council 2009  Having given you the basis of an open discussion we would like to hear you views and comments.  Please to The Clerk or The Chairman or by writing to: The Clerk. Paddock Wood Town Council, The Podmore Building, St Andrew’s Field, Paddock Wood.  Further information may be obtained from: 27

© Paddock Wood Town Council 2009  South East England Development Agency :  Tunbridge Wells Borough Council:  Kent County Council: 28