Oakham town centre ideas are up for debate
Ideas to improve the vitality of Oakham will be under the microscope at the next meeting of Rutland County Council.
Oakham Task and Finish Group has been looking at how to make the town centre a better place for residents, businesses and
visitors.
Members have come up with a long list of ideas to improve parking, traffic management, signage, tourism and community engagement.
The group was set up in January after controversial plans to create a one-way system through the town were axed. It includes councillors, business people and other members of the community.
Their top parking priorities include opening up 100 extra spaces by the summer, offering two hours free parking in the run up to Christmas and providing free parking before 10.30am and after 4pm.
To improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety, the suggested priorities are a 20mph speed limit through the town centre, pavement repairs, new pedestrian crossings on Burley Road and Penn Street and improving the visibility of the Melton Road crossing.
Suggestions to boost tourism include maps in every car park, better signage, increased opening hours at the castle and museum and the creation of a “characterful eatery quarter” in the west end of the
town.
Rutland County Council leader Oliver Hemsley (Con) said: “We are fully committed to supporting our market towns so they can continue to thrive for many years to come.
“I would like to commend everyone who has made a contribution to the Oakham Task and Finish Group and to all those who helped to produce the report.”
Key ideas from the report include:
l Increase staff parking at Rutland County Council
l Two-storey car park at Westgate
l Park and ride at Co-op
l Investigate additional parking sites including Tesco land and the ambulance station
l Traders permits for Station Road
l Two hours free parking at Christmas
l Free parking before 10.30am and after 4pm
l 20mph limit in the town centre
l Traffic calming in Barleythorpe Road and Uppingham Road
l Widen Barleythorpe Road to three lanes near the station
l Cut parking bays into the verge on Long Row to maintain traffic flow both ways
l Loading time restraints
l Repair pavements
l New crossings on Burley Road and South Street
lImplement weight restrictions with signage
l Tourism maps in all car parks
l Illustrated heritage trail set into pavements
l Strict policy on shop front designs
l Increase castle and museum opening hours
l Improved bus services
The report has the backing of the county council’s Growth, Infrastructure and Resources Scrutiny
Panel.
It will now go before the full council on Monday, December 14 when councillors will decide whether to set up an Oakham Regeneration Partnership in January. They will also decide whether to allow council officers to look into the feasibility of the ideas.
n What do you think of the plans? E-mail: rutlandtimes@iliffepublishing.co.uk with your views.
