Mead Lane Consultation

The District Council have published a draft plan for the Mead Lane area of the town and will conduct a public consultation on it's adoption.

The Mead Lane Urban Development Framework sets out the council's vision for the area, currently a mix of residential and business premises.

The broad aims of the Urban Design Framework are to ensure a high quality regeneration of the Mead Lane area, re-integrate it with the rest of the town and to ensure that future development is based on principles of sustainable Development.

Some of the more specific proposals laid out in the framework include:

• General improvements to streets and river corridor
• Promoting Hartham Common area with enhanced connections
• New pedestrian/cycle friendly routes
• Promoting architecture that demonstrates a positive relationship to the river
• Retaining as many existing employment operations as possible beyond Marshgate Drive
• Creation of public spaces
• An enhanced setting to Hertford East Station at the gateway to Mead Lane
• New passenger transport provisions including improved bus stops and links to Hertford East
• Provision of a new road link to the north of Hertford East Station to the junction with Marshgate Drive
• Provision of a new road link across the former Gas Works to enable circulatory traffic movements (in particular for buses)
• Highway improvements to Marshgate Drive
• Improving pedestrian connections between Hertford East Station, its surroundings, and the town centre

The uplic consultation will take place between 16th June and 28th July.

More information and documents can be found on the East Herts District Council website at www.eastherts.gov.uk/meadlaneudf.

Background

Much of the area was originally developed for industrial and municipal uses when the railway arrived in the 19th century, and included the town's gas, electricity and sewerage works. A small pocket of residential homes were also established in Spencer Street and Marshgate Drive for the workers in these establishments.

During the latter half of the 20th Century, much of the heavy industry left, leaving the area to mixed fortunes. Piecemeal development has taken place, with some land being put to new uses, such as new business and commercial premises at the western end of Mead Lane. Despite being designated employment land, the eastern part of the area has been occupied by new residential properties, with more planned. Between these two modern developments are areas of dereliction and older, poor quality buildings.

In 2003 a consultation took place after developers published a draft plan for the area. However, whilst largely receiving positive reviews, the plans were dropped due to the fact that just one already congested road connects the entire area to the rest of the town.