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Feedback from the public meetings and next steps

Petersfield Tomorrow was launched at the Festival Hall, Petersfield at public meetings on 17th and 20th February 2004. Participants were encouraged to identify the issues that they felt were important for the town and its district and to indicate what they wanted to see as outcomes from the work to be undertaken on the Healthcheck.

For each of the topics, facilitators were available, together with panel boards setting out questions and issues. “Post-it” notes were provided for people to set out their views and comments. The results were a wide range of ideas, which are briefly summarised using the 4 topics identified.

Work and Business

• Better tourist facilities, including an hotel, guides and signage
• More variety and specialist shops
• A strategy for businesses and work to encourage local apprenticeships and provide opportunities for young people
• An enterprise hub to provide services for local home workers
• Live and work units
• Local labour and supply networks to be encouraged
• Affordable housing for key workers
• Promotion of the market square with more activity and perhaps a permanent base for the farmers' market;
• 6th form college for the town

Enviroment

• Better litter collection and cleansing
• More landscaping and tree planting at key locations
• Dog toilet bins
• Better play facilities for young children
• A cinema
• Better design of shop fronts and a conservation strategy acknowledging the heritage of the town and its countryside
• Remove clutter of signs;
• Introduce and encourage sustainable buildings and energy conservation
• Undertake specific improvements at key locations such as the railway station
• Better management of the Heath to encourage use by all but ensure protection of sensitive areas

Transport

• Introduce park and ride
• Improve parking, signage and capacities
• Introduce innovative parking strategies
• Better cycling facilities and routes in and out of the town
• Better public transport using mini-buses and improved links to rural areas
• More 1 way routes
• Restore mini-roundabouts at key junctions
• More pedestrianisation and better pavements
• Improve signage and timetabling of buses
• Cheaper faces around the town
• Better bus / rail integration
• Use community transport and improve coordination of school transport.

Community

• Provide a children's centre to bring services together including toy library and play facilities
• Improve toilets and provide changing facilities
• A drop in centre for 14-17 year olds
• Better opening hours for the library including Thursdays and Saturday afternoons
• A directory, better information and links between voluntary organisations;
• Better disabled access throughout the town
• Skateboard park at the Taro Centre
• Better policing on Friday and Saturday nights
• Improved hospital facilities and parking
• More involvement of young people in the future of the town