Have your say on plans to overhaul Lymington Town Quay
THE promised public consultation on revamping Lymington Town Quay launched this week following complaints that plans were being drawn up in “secrecy”.
Residents have until late September to submit their ideas to improve the waterside area, which is a focal point for visitors and shoppers but currently dominated by a car park and toilet block.
There are hopes to transform it into a more welcoming public space alongside the conveniences being upgraded to boost sailing facilities.
As reported in the A&T, the process has been opened up by New Forest District Council, which owns most of the land, after failing to agree a scheme with Lymington Harbour Commissioners and Lymington and Pennington Town Council.
Civic group the Lymington Society has complained of designs worth hundreds of thousands of pounds being drawn up “behind the scenes” with a lack of public involvement.
On Monday NFDC opened the public consultation it had promised to try to come up with a way forward.
Cllr Alison Hoare, NFDC cabinet member for environment and regulatory services, said: “The NFDC toilet block is due for modernisation so we are taking the opportunity to work together with the town council and the harbour commission to make the most of the opportunity to look at the whole quay and consider if we could improve it.
“As part of developing our plans, we are asking interested local residents, businesses, river users and visitors to complete a short survey on what they value and what they think could be improved.“
The town council and the Lymington Society want the area to become capable of hosting public occasions, such as markets and seasonal events.
NFDC wants to upgrade the toilet block which it said was used by around 200,000 visitors a year, including new shower facilities provided by the harbour commissioners for visiting sailors. Currently about 12,000 use the showers annually.
The intention is to match the harbour commissioners’ plan to provide new pontoons with more walk-ashore berths to compete with rival marinas on the Solent, including Beaulieu.
The quay contains two car parks with 54 spaces plus the slipway. It is an important part of the town’s flood defences which are integrated with the toilet block.
As reported in the A&T, NFDC has a budget of about £350,000 for the toilets plus a contribution from the harbour commissioners of up to £175,000. The town council has earmarked £100,000 to support wider improvements.
The plan is to have a draft proposal to show to the community by December followed by a formal planning application in January/February next year. Works are scheduled to start in the autumn of 2020.
To find out more go to www.newforest.gov.uk/LymQuay or pick up a paper version Lymington Town Hall, NFDC information offices and various shops and businesses at the quay.
Responses should be submitted by 23rd September online or by returning them to Lymington Town Hall or NFDC’s Appletree Court offices during office hours.
