Bishop's Stortford LibDems' Reservations Over Causeway Plans.

11.14.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 21st Jul 2010

Old River Lane and the East Herts Council offices

Local LibDems continue to have severe reservations about the initial design proposals by Hendersons for the redevelopment of the Council offices and the Causeway car park (Old River Lane development).

Old River Lane, Council Offices and Causeway Car Park

There is concern regarding the height of some of the buildings (one building is six stories high) as we do not want to see a repeat of the high and overbearing block developments of Jackson Square. By extending the retail area, the town centre would move further northwards, away from the present centre, which is already suffering with some retail closures. At the present time the lower South Street/Station Road area has foot-fall problems following the closure of the Riverside car park and the Sainsbury's store. The problems for this area would be exacerbated by the Henderson proposals, being some distance from the new development and with Jackson Square between the two areas.

The idea of a Digital Cinema within the development seems somewhat absurd considering the town already has a 6 screen Cinema Complex in Anchor Street and an Arts Cinema facility within the Rhodes Arts Complex.

Hendersons' proposals can been seen on the District Council's website at http://www.eastherts.gov.uk/media/pdf/r/c/Old_River_Lane_Initial_Development_Brief.pdf

or, for greater detail, Henderson's own dedicated webpage:

www.oldriverlane.com