Comment
Waterbeach New Town Supplementary Planning Document
Representation ID: 167276
Received: 22/10/2018
Respondent: Guinevere Glasfurd-Brown
4.2 KEY STRUCTURING ELEMENTS (FIXES)
Comment on the lack of detail on provision for arts and culture, including provision of a venue for live events and exhibition space
1) I want to comment on the lack of detail on the provision for arts in the New Town. Whilst 'Arts and Culture facilities' are referenced, these are in passing and entirely vague (SPD pp39-40). The Creative Industries, which include the arts, are of growing importance in the UK economy and can play an important part in helping to create vibrant and cohesive communities. Waterbeach has a lively arts community, which Urban and Civic has supported in recent years by hosting Open Studios at the Barracks site.
Section 106 funding is available to the New Town. It is hugely important that the plan for the New Town includes a dedicated venue for the arts to include live events, concerts and theatre as well as dedicated exhibition space. The plan should also consider how to embed the arts throughout the town through commissioned works and events that interpret the site and its fenland setting. Fen Edge communities are ill-served by the arts and there is opportunity here to change that model for the better.
1) I want to comment on the lack of detail on the provision for arts in the New Town. Whilst 'Arts and Culture facilities' are referenced, these are in passing and entirely vague (SPD pp39-40). The Creative Industries, which include the arts, are of growing importance in the UK economy and can play an important part in helping to create vibrant and cohesive communities. Waterbeach has a lively arts community, which Urban and Civic has supported in recent years by hosting Open Studios at the Barracks site.
Section 106 funding is available to the New Town. It is hugely important that the plan for the New Town includes a dedicated venue for the arts to include live events, concerts and theatre as well as dedicated exhibition space. The plan should also consider how to embed the arts throughout the town through commissioned works and events that interpret the site and its fenland setting. Fen Edge communities are ill-served by the arts and there is opportunity here to change that model for the better.
2) The New Town would be better served by restricting vehicle access and having pedestrianised areas instead. I agree with the 'People First' vision for Waterbeach New Town proposed by the Waterbeach Cycle Campaign.