community engagement summary february 2019 · and improved public realm that the community of new...

New AddingtonCommunity engagement summaryFebruary 2019

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New Addington | Community Engagement Summary

Overview

IntroductionIn July 2018 the consultancy company PRP were commissioned by Croydon Council to plan a public engagement process that would capture the views of the wider community on the future regeneration of New Addington.

The area around the Central Parade in New Addington has been designated as a priority regeneration area within Croydon since 2004, and the council is determined to deliver new, high quality community facilities, improved retail offer, employment opportunities, new homes and improved public realm that the community of New Addington deserve.

The community engagement process took place between September and October 2018 and involved more than 200 people including residents, local businesses,statutory bodies and other interest groups who were engaged on the initial proposed ideas in relation to the next stages of regeneration in New Addington.

This document summarises the responses received throughout the duration of the engagement process.

The responses were received at the following events:

New Addington Fun Day:• Fun day (22 September)

Public exhibitions at the following locations:• Fieldway Family Centre

• Timebridge Centre

• Addington Community Centre

• Library / CALAT (Croydon Adult Learning and Training facility)

Public events:• Outdoor markets (11 September and 21 September)

• Indoor markets (13 September and 20 September

Stakeholder open space workshops:• Safe Haven group workshop (11 September)

• Brownie and Guides workshop (19 October)

Online questionnaire and feedback forms/flyers:• Available between 10th - 30th September

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Photo from the New Addington ‘Fun Day’ - Panash Steel Orchestra

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Strongly agree (57.85%)

Neither agree nor disagree (9.09%)

Disagree (2.48%)

Strongly disagree (0.83%)

Agree (29.75%)

Wellbeing Centre Retail

New homes

Opportunities for a new Wellbeing Centre, homes and shops as part of Phase 3 regeneration of the area

Q1. Please rate how much you agree or disagree with the following:

SummaryCroydon Council is proposing a new Wellbeing Centre, new homes, retail and business / employment uses within Central Parade as part of Phase 3 regeneration in New Addington and are keen to hear from the community what specific services, spaces and uses they thought would be both required and beneficial to the local community.

Below and over the next few pages are a summary of the engagement questions asked and the responses collated.





Disagree (6.61%)

Disagree (3.31%)



Agree (28.93%)

Agree (33.88%)


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“ Homes, of course. With an emphasis on affordable housing!”

“ Public transport improvements- wheelchair use for public transport”

“ Bungalows from the council for the elderly”

“ Social meeting place for people that use the market!”

“ A Wellbeing centre would offer services and uses for all the community!”

“ Space for teenagers so they don’t get in trouble”

Business/employment use

Q1.1 Please specify any further comments:



Disagree (4.96%)


Agree (34.71%)

Stall at the New Addington Fun Day

Image of the public exhibition engagement boards

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Q2. Which of the following services, spaces and uses would you like to see in and around a new public facility in New Addington?:

Library

New homes

New shops

GPs and other NHS services

Other community services

Community space for events and groups

Meeting rooms for local businesses

Business and employment uses

Children's library and activity space

A place for teenagers

Computers

Studio space for art, dance, drama and music

CALAT (Croydon Adult Learning and Training facility)

Council services

Quiet study space

Cafe

Other

Library 73.73%

New homes 51.69%

New shops 57.63%

GPs and other NHS services 73.73%

Other community services 40.68%

Community space for events and groups 58.47%

Meeting rooms for local businesses 38.14%

Businesses and employment uses 46.61%

Children’s library and activity space 75.42%

A place for teenagers 71.19%

Computers 52.54%

Studio space for art, dance, drama and music 67.80%

CALAT (Croydon Adult Learning and Training facility) 48.31%

Other 14.41%

Cafe 47.76%

Quiet study space 54.24%

Council services 62.71%

Of the 118 respondents to the multiple response question the below outlines the findings:



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Q2.1. Please specify any further comments:

“A contemplation outdoor green space would be more welcome.”

“For homes, I would like to see homes for large families.”

“Children are the future of our society and large families should be encouraged in New Addington”

“Hub of a community, how many more years are they going to take to come up with a design. They say a lot but not much action”

“Waste of money”

“Consider shop uses- no more chicken and chip shops!”

“A place for elderly and lonely, Friendship facilities with faith-basis (god-friendly)”

Image of the Safe Haven stakeholder workshop

Image of the flyers avalable at public exhibition locations

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Q3. What else would you like us to consider for the next phase of regeneration in New Addington?

Community facilities / uses

Movement and access

Safety and crime

“ A place for teenagers, nothing for them to do, music studio”

“ A venue to hold events like weddings or parties”“Racism against foreign shop owners. Deal with the drug problems kids have!”

“Deal with safety and crime, not enough police presence”

“Fear of crime”

“ After school clubs: Healthy activities for kids and teenagers. Maybe a cinema”

“ Bigger market- extended days”

After school club- affordable, time relevant activities.”

“More job opportunity, adult learning advice centres/CAB/read/write support.”

“ Disabled car parks- parking at the medical centre”

“ CCTV and lights should be installed”

“ Place to worship/prayer- meeting during the week. Activities for children during summer time (summer club run by the church- Seventh day adventist)”

“The Service road still bad”

“ Slow central parade down by putting in traffic calming measures”

“ Spaces- community gathering- culture events”

Key findings:

+ Local residents, stakeholders and community groups are not adverse to new regeneration opportunities.

+ A Wellbeing Centre would be seen as a positive contribution to the local community and allow for new homes, retail and employment opportunities.

+ The Wellbeing Centre should cater for a multitude of uses allowing for all ages of the community to benefit and interact with one and other.

+ The local community is not against new housing, however this should focus on older people living and young families and be affordable and accessible for local residents.



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Photo from the stakeholder workshop with the Safe Haven group at the Pathfinders

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Opportunities for improvements to the Central Parade green space (Town and Village Green)

SummaryCroydon Council is proposing future improvements to the Central Parade green space (TVG) and is keen to understand how people currently use and spend time there with particular reference to the space outside of the New Addington Community Centre and the leisure centre. The council is also keen to hear what other improvements the community feel are required and what will make them increase their usage of spaces in and around Central Parade.

Below and over the next few pages are a summary of the engagement questions asked and the responses collated.

Q4. How often do you currently use the Central Parade green space outside the New Addington Community Centre and leisure centre?:

Daily (4.24%)

Once a month (2.54%)

Less often (66.95%)

Never use (11.86%)

Weekly (14.41%)

Q4.1. Please specify any further comments:

“It’s a nice and friendly open space but needs a lot of work. Seating is needed and a walking trail”

“ I have my own house and garden”

“Just don’t use it. It’s mainly the shops that I use”

“Not large enough area to warrant use”

“Not used by anyone. Not pleasant place”

“There is nothing to use there”

“I use it for dog walking, nice in the summer to chill out but not much to do”

“There is nothing there to use and I choose to walk my dog elsewhere.”

“The TVG is important, even if it is not used and packed with activities”

Q5. If you are not using the Central Parade green space, please say why?:


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Of the 118 respondents to the multiple response question the below outlines the findings:

“Water play feature like at south bank”

“Flowers, hanging baskets, flower beds, outdoor gym and water feature / fountain would improve the space”

“Stage area for judo/dance displays as a different offer from existing market square”

“A design that avoids areas where you get big congregations of youths. More sculptures like the bears.”

“Community orchard- if someone looks after it! A place where people can meet up”

“Maintain green nature of the space, however add more of a function and use to benefit the local community”

Q6. What improvements would you like to see to the Central Parade green space?

Q6.1 Please specify any further comments:

“Outside exercise equipment (like Lloyd park). More like a park that is suitable for primary school children”

“Outdoor gym- like outside Goldcrest, something to do while you’re there- teenagers would also use. Not suitable for small children play because of the road”

More trees, plants and flowers (69.49%)

More seating (73.73%)

None (2.54%)

Other (10.17%)

Play equipment (61.86%)

Image from the Safe Haven stakeholder workshop

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Q7. What else would you like us to consider for an improved Central Parade green space in New Addington?

Wheelchair accessibility”

“Crime management within open spaces”

“Entertainment for families”

“All shops to stop selling alcohol. Fund-raiser on bigger usable space. Moped proof. More disabled parking spaces”

“Garden, flowers and bench and water feature instead of ugly stores. Soothing for mental health”

“A park with zipwire and tyre swing”

“Get more people into the market”

“More space for people to have a better Wellbeing. Walking- something for all the people which is not closed in. Healthy walking to count your steps”and a designated cycle way

“Seating areas with tables therefore, residents and local workers can sit and eat during their lunch break or during a shopping trip. Making the space a more social area!”

“Water fountain, statue or sculpture”

“Better signage and logo for New Addington- show pride in New Addington”

“An (additional) ‘quiet space’ area, appropriately landscaped with variations to the landscape. Quiet area/s so significant re: peoples mental health and Wellbeing”

“Change Central Parade road. Make the market square part of the regeneration so they can flow across the road”

“Community gardens- to sit around and enjoy the plants- e.g. a growing project linked to the community centre”

Spaces for the community to enjoy, play and relax

Improvements to surrounding streets and spaces


Opportunities for improvements to the Central Parade green space (Town and Village Green)

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Key findings:

+ The majority of the local community expressed that they do not really use the Central Parade green space (TVG).

+ Many people believe the green space doesn’t encourage use and would welcome enhancements and improvements to the space as a whole.

+ More seating, trees, plants, flowers, water features and better management were proposed to be included in any future design proposals.

+ Many people believe the issue is not only the current green space (TVG) but that the surrounding streets and spaces should also be improved.

Image from the New Addington Fun Day

Image from the New Addington Fun Day

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Q8. How important do you consider the six key themes (see below) that emerged from previous local engagement?

Very important (76.47%)


Not important (0.98%)


No response (12.75%)


Slightly important (9.80%)


Community facilities

Community safety and crime

Maintaining and enhancing character

Landscape improvements









Summary of previous community engagement


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Access and parking

Employment









Key findings:

+ All six key themes identified from previous engagement events are still important to the local residents, stakeholders and community groups.

+ Addressing community safety and crime is still a major issue and a high priority for the local residents.

+ New employment opportunities and community facilities are also still seen as a key priority, especially for the current young generations to activate them and gain working experience.

+ A strong desire for usable open space on Central Parade that complements the existing mature trees, whilst offering amenities for all ages.

+ There is still a need for community facilities, however residents recognise that they need investment to meet current and future users.

+ Access and parking is an issue that the community feel has not been resolved, with many residents stating there needs to be much stricter parking controls on neighbouring streets around Central Parade.

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Stakeholder workshop summary

SummaryTwo interactive stakeholder workshops were carried out with children and teenagers from New Addington and surrounding communities The workshops included over 70 attendees and was focussed around an interactive drawing session where attendees attempted to draw their ‘dream’ green open space, see diagrams below.

CENTRAL PARADE

SALCOT CRESCENT

CHERTSEY CRESCENT

PARKWAY

YOU ARE HERE

NEW ADDINGTON TRAM STOP

New Addington Leisure and Community Centre

Retail precinct

Saint Edwards Church

Existing Leisure Centre

Proposed open space location

Key


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The predominant elements coming out of the sessions were:

+ Water features

+ Nature trails

+Tree and flower planting

+ Play equipment

+ Spaces for sport playing

+ Seating

+ Quiet spaces

+ Obstacle courses

+ Climbing apparatus

+ Zip wire

Key findings:

+ There should be much more of an offer in terms of play for the local community.

+ The green space (TVG) should be located within the centre of Central Parade.

+ The green space should be flexible and adaptable.

+ A space that feels safe and secure.

+ Further enhancement to existing open space within the surrounding neighbourhoods should be made in order to create a much greater offer in terms of relaxing and socialising spaces.

Open space workshop- Create your own open space for Central Parade

OPEN SPACE

BUILDING

BUILDING

Image from the stakeholder workshop with brownies and guides.

Open space workshop sheet

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Key findings:

+ Multi use Wellbeing centre - public hub

The opportunities around a new multi use Wellbeing Centre was attractive to most local residents with approximately 58 % of respondents “strongly agreeing” with the provision and approximately 30% stating that they “agreed” with the proposal.

+ New homes

Approximately 46 % of local residents “strongly agreed “ with the provision of new homes, while approximately 29 % “agreed”.

+ Retail

Approximately 49 % of local residents “strongly agreed “ with the provision of new retail, while approximately 34% “agreed”.

+ New business space

Approximately 45.5% of local residents “strongly agreed “ with the provision of new business space, while approximately 35 % “agreed”.

+ Improved green space

Approximately 70% of local residents suggested more trees, plants and flowers to improve the green spaces around Central Parade. 74% suggested more seating and 62% some play equipment for children.

Next Steps:

Croydon Council will review the findings of the engagement process.

Should any of the proposals be given the go ahead, additional community engagement will be carried out to inform the detailed design proposals.

Key findings and next steps


community engagement summary february 2019 · and improved public realm that the community of new...

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