Vision revealed to attract more visitors to Midhurst

Midhurst Vision Partnership launched its exhibition today (October 5) and images of a reimagined Midhurst will remain on show until October 21.

They will also be available to view online at midhurstvision.org – and residents can give feedback in person or online.

Local people, groups and businesses are invited to work together to imagine their town’s future and create plans to make it happen.

The consultation, launched by Midhurst Vision Partnership, with montages created by Deacon Design, shows a new and improved plan for the town centre.

Architect Phil Deacon, said: “We started with a review of the whole town centre – looking at the character of the different areas, what looked good and worked well and what could be improved. We were given some specific goals of making the town greener as it is at the heart of the South Downs National Park and lacks urban greening. Greening is known to have many benefits - whether it’s reducing air pollution, making areas more attractive or creating a sense of wellbeing.”

The architects have put together a series of ‘montages’ which are realistic images of how some of the ideas could look in reality. They include the main ‘gateways’ to the town which are mainly greening and sign improvements.

Under the plans, visitors would be signposted to the Grange Car Park, and a green walkway would be created through to Old Town. The idea is to take pressure off North Street car park and increase footfall to Old Town.

Deacon is also developing a cohesive design guide for signs, landscaping materials and plants, so that there is some consistency in the town.

More complex and challenging areas are North Street and West Street, Midhurst Vision said, where on-street and often on-pavement parking causes congestion, blocks pavements and detracts from the buildings and shop fronts.

Midhurst locals have become used to parking on the street, so removing some of that convenience could be a challenge.

Philippa McCullough, of Midhurst Vision, said: “What we need to think about is, do the advantages outweigh the negatives? There would still be Blue Badge parking, deliveries could be better managed with retractable bollards (or some other method) and the streets would be much more attractive and pedestrian and cycling friendly.

"Just think how great it would be sitting at a café on North Street next to some lovely planting instead of cars or vans driving in and out next to you with the associated noise and exhaust fumes.”

She added that in neighbouring towns, such as Petersfield, Haslemere, Petworth and Chichester, people have become used to going straight to a car park in those places, and that people tend to stay longer and spend more when they go to a car park.

Another big part of the vision is to enhance public spaces, which is proven to increase visitor levels and improve the experience, so that people return, and North Street acting as a ‘shop window’ for the town will be a big part of that.

Geoff Allnutt, one of the founding directors of Midhurst Vision and a local business owner, said: “None of the montages are meant to be set plans, but aspirational ideas of what things could look like with certain changes. The feedback from this consultation will determine how these plans evolve.”

Supporting the project, Carol Lintott, chair of Midhurst Town Council, said: "We share the aspiration to try to make our town greener and more pedestrian/cycling friendly while reducing traffic and parking congestion, we look forward to the outcome of the wider consultation.”

Town visions are about creating a better place to live in, work in or visit. Local people, groups and businesses work together to imagine their town’s future and create plans to make it happen.

Midhurst Vision Partnership includes residents, business owners, representatives of Midhurst Town Council, Chichester District Council, West Sussex County Council, Cowdray Estate, South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) and key local organisations like Midhurst Town Team CIC and Midhurst Society.

It is now a Community Interest Company which enables it to apply for and receive funds.

The initial review and design concept work is being mainly funded by Chichester District Council (CDC) with support from Midhurst Town Council (MTC) and Cowdray Estate.

To find out more, visit the exhibition at The Grange, Midhurst until October 21 or visit: midhurstvision.org