Topic ID 2052
Picked up on this in another thread - [url]http://www.brb.gov.uk/property/property_listings?keyword=hertford[/url] I wondered what the prospects were for it? Surely they can't be thinking of developing housing on the site?
Reply ID 27257
Since I first came to Hertford as a small boy, I've thought this old goods line to be a valuable unused corridor for local transport. Then buildings started popping up in it's path. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the remainder is developed for housing. What a lost opportunity.
Reply ID 27258
Okay, I'm obviously being a bit dense but can someone describe exactly which bit of land we are talking about?
Reply ID 27259
quote:If you walk under Port Hill Bridge into the new development called Sidings Court, there is a big gate at the end which is padlocked. On the other side is the train track that runs almost parallel with Port Vale and ends near Nelson Street.
Originally posted by newcomer
Okay, I'm obviously being a bit dense but can someone describe exactly which bit of land we are talking about?
Reply ID 27263
quote:Thanks Berbatov. So does that include the strip running alongside (beneath) Balfour Street?
Originally posted by Berbatov
On the other side is the train track that runs almost parallel with Port Vale and ends near Nelson Street.
Reply ID 27271
quote:It does indeed. It did once run from East Station, across Hartham car park ( you can still see the bridge underneath), past the BMW dealership site, under Port Hill bridge and to Hertford North, which was not a passenger terminal at that time. It's route linked almost every significant part of town and thus was ideal for a passenger tram, had anybody realised the future need.
Originally posted by newcomerquote:Thanks Berbatov. So does that include the strip running alongside (beneath) Balfour Street?
Originally posted by Berbatov
On the other side is the train track that runs almost parallel with Port Vale and ends near Nelson Street.
Reply ID 27272
Look here for more information on the route and original Hertford North station: http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/
Reply ID 27274
FWIW it's not sold, it's under offer. Yes, the future [possible] need was realised but the local authorities just didn't act on it, probably because they thought that nothing would ever come of it.
Reply ID 27275
quote:I suppose nothing is certain until signatures are obtained, but the BR site does say "If land is shown as 'Under Offer' that means it is in course of sale and is no longer on the market".
Originally posted by Steve
FWIW it's not sold, it's under offer. Yes, the future [possible] need was realised but the local authorities just didn't act on it, probably because they thought that nothing would ever come of it.
Reply ID 27277
quote:Point taken [:)]
Originally posted by Ray_by_the_Beane
I suppose nothing is certain until signatures are obtained, but the BR site does say "If land is shown as 'Under Offer' that means it is in course of sale and is no longer on the market".
Reply ID 27303
quote:I'm sure there was a suggestion a few years ago that the land be made available for additional residents parking - can't remember who made it, though. It would be a shame to lose the land to further development.
Originally posted by Ted Badger
Picked up on this in another thread - [url]http://www.brb.gov.uk/property/property_listings?keyword=hertford[/url] I wondered what the prospects were for it? Surely they can't be thinking of developing housing on the site?
Reply ID 27323
Just another case of the incredible shrinking town, I guess. I'm sure we'll find out what's planned in due course - ?!
Reply ID 27365
Is it Sainsburys making the offer in order to use it as a cark park for a new store I wonder, oran entrance from Part Vale.......now thats a thought .
Reply ID 27373
quote:But the pantechnicons will still have to get through to Nelson Street and then back onto Port Hill and into the Old Cross/site. I heard a rumour that a conservation society were interested in buying it. Anyone else heard of that?
Originally posted by Marilyn
Is it Sainsburys making the offer in order to use it as a cark park for a new store I wonder, oran entrance from Part Vale.......now thats a thought .
Reply ID 27374
quote:What would they be conserving apart from the disused railway line?[?]
Originally posted by Mr Pquote:But the pantechnicons will still have to get through to Nelson Street and then back onto Port Hill and into the Old Cross/site. I heard a rumour that a conservation society were interested in buying it. Anyone else heard of that?
Originally posted by Marilyn
Is it Sainsburys making the offer in order to use it as a cark park for a new store I wonder, oran entrance from Part Vale.......now thats a thought .
Reply ID 27376
quote:Exactly I was joking............I hope
Originally posted by Mr Pquote:But the pantechnicons will still have to get through to Nelson Street and then back onto Port Hill and into the Old Cross/site. I heard a rumour that a conservation society were interested in buying it. Anyone else heard of that?
Originally posted by Marilyn
Is it Sainsburys making the offer in order to use it as a cark park for a new store I wonder, oran entrance from Part Vale.......now thats a thought .
Reply ID 27379
quote:The scooby doo bridge, of course - a famous Hertford landmark and an important part of our heritage.
Originally posted by Ewoowar
What would they be conserving apart from the disused railway line?[?]
Reply ID 27388
quote:Ha ha!! The bridge should be listed for Scooby alone!
Originally posted by Jobyquote:The scooby doo bridge, of course - a famous Hertford landmark and an important part of our heritage.
Originally posted by Ewoowar
What would they be conserving apart from the disused railway line?[?]
Reply ID 27395
quote:If you live in Bengeo, this strip of land is why you have butterflies, woodpeckers and all manner of twittering birds in the morning.
Originally posted by Ewoowarquote:What would they be conserving apart from the disused railway line?[?]
Originally posted by Mr Pquote:But the pantechnicons will still have to get through to Nelson Street and then back onto Port Hill and into the Old Cross/site. I heard a rumour that a conservation society were interested in buying it. Anyone else heard of that?
Originally posted by Marilyn
Is it Sainsburys making the offer in order to use it as a cark park for a new store I wonder, oran entrance from Part Vale.......now thats a thought .
Reply ID 27402
I have had to get rid of my fair share of twittering birds in the morning!
Reply ID 27403
Twittering birds eh! This line must run all the way to the Woolpack.
Reply ID 27422
Earlier this year I phoned the number on the notice boards that are errected on the land & was told that the land had been acquired by Sustrans. However, when I approached Sustrans to enquire of their intentions they had no knowledge of the land! I've been told by many locals that the land is too narrow to be of interest to property developers - I hope so.
Reply ID 27476
The strip of land is very deep & narrow; the near vertical sides have walls ontop of earth retaining walls and houses built along it. It can't be widened unless houses/walls are demolished and there's still the drop to contend with. You could drive along it - if it were clear of trees - but to what? Is it all narrow or is there an area that widens out somewhere along it? Has anyone actually spoken to the planning department about what they would or would not allow to be built on this land? Houses must have their own access road and have to have one parking space per house. Being in a conservation area means that any tree over 5ft needs specific permission to be removed or must be retained in the new development. The possibility is also that the land has been bought just to aquire the land and nothing else.
Reply ID 27479
We have discussed this on another thread, i think, but I firmly believe it could still be a useful cycle link to the park. Even at the Port Hill end where the flats are now there is still a clear way through, big enough for cycles and pedestrians. The railway bridge is blocked up so the Utopian idea of cycling under the road to the park is definitely out, but a Toucan crossing might work? I think last time Victor made the comment that Mill Mead way residents wouldn't be happy as cyclists would look down on to their properties - but there are plenty of places where this happens on cycle routes. Personally, I think it is a valuable haven for wildlife - there's a family of foxes that lives very close to the Balfour Street bridge. All the trees and bushes in the cutting are laden with fruit at the moment, which must support a huge range of animals and birds.
Reply ID 27492
quote:Thing is that there is effectively a cycle route already doing 90% of this route, from the River Beane across the Millmead Way estate, round the back of MillMead Schoolinto Port Vale and up the bit of Port Hill below the slope up to the railway bridge. The cost of reinstating the bridges over the Beane and Port Vale and putting in a new one over the entrance to the estate and building up the ground where the embankment was removed to build Mill Mead Way would be prohibititive. It would be nice to think that what is left of the line can be kept as a green corridor through Lower Bengeo.
Originally posted by nora batty
We have discussed this on another thread, i think, but I firmly believe it could still be a useful cycle link to the park. Even at the Port Hill end where the flats are now there is still a clear way through, big enough for cycles and pedestrians. The railway bridge is blocked up so the Utopian idea of cycling under the road to the park is definitely out, but a Toucan crossing might work? I think last time Victor made the comment that Mill Mead way residents wouldn't be happy as cyclists would look down on to their properties - but there are plenty of places where this happens on cycle routes. Personally, I think it is a valuable haven for wildlife - there's a family of foxes that lives very close to the Balfour Street bridge. All the trees and bushes in the cutting are laden with fruit at the moment, which must support a huge range of animals and birds.
Reply ID 27628
quote:Totally agree the scooby doo bridge must remain standing.
Originally posted by Jobyquote:The scooby doo bridge, of course - a famous Hertford landmark and an important part of our heritage.
Originally posted by Ewoowar
What would they be conserving apart from the disused railway line?[?]