Exeter Green Party has secured a commitment to engage with public on the future of the old bus station site in the city centre. A survey the Green Party launched [1] asking local residents for ideas on how the site should be used found no appetite for the Labour-led Council’s plan for a temporary car park. Over 280 responses to a survey the Greens launched brought forward many creative ideas for the site, which has prompted the Council to consult on possible alternatives to a car park.
Green councillor Andy Ketchin said:
“While Labour accelerated towards turning the bus station site into a car park, Exeter Greens set out to engage with local people to find out what they really wanted. Our survey resulted in over 400 suggestions, only one of which included a car park. Popular suggestions included a green space, city park or plaza and a market square or commercial space to showcase local businesses and Devon produce. Other creative ideas included a children’s play park and an arts or performance space.”
Leader of the Green group on Exeter City Council, Cllr Diana Moore added:
“Clearly the public in Exeter are far more creative than the Labour-run Council and see this as an opportunity to develop this prime city centre space in interesting and exciting ways both in the short and longer term. This week I called on the Labour leadership to creatively collaborate with the community and local businesses and it is a step forward that they have agreed to a public consultation. Hopefully they will get the message loud and clear: no to a car park; yes to something special and distinctive.”
Notes
[1] The survey set up by Exeter Green Party has received over 280 individual submissions. Many respondents made multiple suggestions, leading to over 400 suggestions in all. Respondents are asked to describe suggestions in a free narrative. The responses included the following broad themes:
- Community space
- Commercial opportunities
- Recreational amenity
- Transport links to the city centre
- Other
A community space was the most popular option, expressed explicitly by 71% of respondents. Ideas within this theme included a green space / park / plaza and community garden.
Using the space for commercial opportunities was another popular thread with 44% of all respondents backing a market, with a relatively even split between open removable markets and an all year round indoor market.
Around 31% of respondents wanted the space used to improve the recreational or cultural offer in the city centre with ideas including a children’s play park, open arts space, sculpture, water feature, regional theatre and an ice rink.