| I wish to endorse the concerns of many residents and traders who have shared concerns with the Federation of Cambridge Residents Associations (FeCRA) about this application. I write to express a strong objection to the proposed plans for the market square under application 25/04382/FUL.
The stated aim (3.2) of the ‘Planning Statement’ is to ‘improve the experience of everyone visiting the city centre by creating more inclusive and accessible buildings, and better public spaces where people can meet and enjoy cultural events’.
But many residents and market traders are telling FeCRA that the present plan amounts to a land grab of public space for the benefit of developers, powerful local business interests and tourists, while hugely impairing the inclusivity, experience and accessibility of Cambridge residents and the market traders.
They point out that the Cambridge market has been thriving since Anglo-Saxon times and is a world famous and much loved part of the Cambridge landscape as well as one of the city’s most significant heritage assets. Maintaining the market as a thriving market and publicly accessible space should be the first priority in any refurbishment plans.
Yet they point out that 25/04382/FUL proposes to:
a) limit the size of the market, using collapsible stalls for much of it,
b) fill the space with fast food outlets,
c) assign a large part of it for use for public concerts and events
Residents say that although the application establishes a rationale for the removal of the existing stalls in line with the local plan 2-18 Policy 61 and PolicyGP/HE of the emergent Local Plan crucially it does not explain how the existing market traders will be accommodated within these works or how this application meets the “Healthy greater Cambridge” policies of the emerging Local plan
They point out that the current drawings for the de-mountable stalls still do not detail whether they will be appropriate for existing traders. There are no elevations, no sections of the proposed stalls, no details either of how these stalls will work with the historic setts.
Residents say it is deeply worrying that the current proposals still do not adequately consider the daily needs of the traders despite all the concerns that have been raised by the traders and residents. Many traders and residents recall the promise made by Lewis Herbert the former leader of Cambridge City Council at a packed meeting in Great St Mary’s at the start of the Market Square project that the traders concerns about where they would be decanted to during the works would be addressed and that these small businesses would be looked after during the duration of the the works. However the market will be closed for over a year while the changes take place and there is still no information about where and how the traders will operate during the works. Plus, whilst insisting on de-mountable stalls for the traders who work in produce, this application does not propose a design for the de–mountable stalls that these traders say will work for them.
Traders say that the decision to dismantle the existing structures and replace them with de-mountable stalls and fixed kiosks will negatively affect both the heritage setting and the functionality of the market and their livelihoods.
During a trial last summer, gazebos were used by both food and non-food traders, and the feedback regarding their effectiveness was largely unfavourable. Traders say that the stalls they currently have are robust, made of steel, and offer the versatility required by all traders.
Residents say that it is outrageous that the many years of experience and knowledge of the small independent businesses who contribute so much to the character of Cambridge’s city centre and the city’s conservation area who supply residents with fresh local food and produce are being ignored.
Residents and traders welcome investment in the city centre. There is consensus that the market is run down, that the cobbles need resurfacing, that all the stalls need deep cleaning and repairs, as well as updates to the electrical systems and fixing the drains.
But this proposal does not show how the market will operate safely and accessibly during and after the works. Nor does it explain how the traders will be accommodated while the works take place or how the historic Grade II listed setts and character of the square will be protected. Residents point out that the proposal does not address the issues of highways safety and transport capacity raised by the County Council or the fact that most of the market’s customers come by bike. They say that the County Council has already stated that the current proposal is unacceptable because of this.
How will the governance issues raised by this application be addressed. Who will decide who gets a stall on the market and what kind of stall? Residents highlight that the City Centre and its green spaces is now controlled by the directors of the company Visit Cambridge, none of them elected.
Residents highlight that the director of the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service and South Cambs. DC and Cambridge City Council Exec Councillors for Planning were the lead speakers at the recent launch of the “Healthy Greater Cambridge Report” by Cambridge University’s head of architecture. The report sets out the Health in All Policies (HiAP) and all sectors ‘Healthy places approach of the emerging Local Plan’. It states: ‘We must ensure that new developments will enable residents to live healthy lifestyles where every street corner, park and building was intentionally crafted to support human flourishing. This is the vision of Healthy Greater Cambridge where residents can live well and thrive’ .
It is not at all clear that the current plans for the Market Square meet the policy requirements of the emerging Local Plan for ensuring a “Healthy Greater Cambridge”
For all these reasons we request that the application be refused or deferred until these issues are properly addressed.
Best wishes,
Wendy |
Recent Comments