Weybridge Society

where community counts and your voice matters

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Placemaking Weybridge

Creating physical spaces and development that enhance and enrich community life for the whole town

Our Role

  • Give Weybridge residents a stronger voice in shaping the town and delivering the future they want.
  • Gather the views and ideas of the community about the town, how it meets their needs and should be developed and protected going forward.
  • Initiate creative ideas that can deliver practical, sustainable improvement to the town drawing on local knowledge and relevant experts.
  • Involve and gain the support of the community and local councillors in progressing ideas and a vision for Weybridge that will be incorporated in council plans.

Scope: The overall look and feel of the town and its public spaces, green spaces, the 4 shopping areas, arterial roads, community buildings and watersides.

What are the aims?

  • A visually more attractive, connected, healthy and welcoming town with a recognisable local identity.
  • Greater community engagement and participation in the future of the town.
  • A thriving town that fosters a sense of community and wellbeing.
  • More civic pride and ownership of public spaces.
  • Effective dialogue with councils for collaborative planning and decision-making to deliver what the community wants.

What’s Involved?

  • Working with Weybridge in Bloom and in coalition with Discover Weybridge, the Business Improvement Team (BID).
  • Promoting opportunities for listening, understanding and gaining feedback from the community on what the town needs and how this can be achieved. Consider creating a Placemaking Stakeholder Group of representatives from residents, council members and community groups to be part of developing and facilitating the delivery of a shared vision for our town’s future.
  • Progressing creative ideas involving town planning and horticultural expertise to create deliverable plans, which can be implemented by councils.
  • Establishing an open Placemaking Vision/Ambition Statement of what’s key to protecting and shaping Weybridge that will provide a guideline to EBC in considering planning applications.
  • Maintaining an open Wish List of future improvements for Weybridge.
  • Maintaining open communication with councils.

Current Priorities

  • Continue to progress ideas that enhance the town centre and deliver greater community cohesiveness and synergy of style.
  • Make a bulletin on progress a regular part of encouraging more input and feedback and even get a few people to join our team.
  • Make Placemaking part of community events to gather and showcase ideas and gain feedback and support for the way forward.
  • Current focus areas:
    – Library Hub – provide feedback and enhancement ideas.
    – Health Centre Entrance – progress ideas with NHS Property Services to enhance and open the green space to the high street, trimming the trees and adding more, including shrubs and new seating that will create a feature.
    – Baker Street & High Street junction – work with SCC officers on the potential options and progress ideas for making this a destination area with time limited pedestrianisation, a vibrant streetscape,   and a redesigned welcoming entrance and amenity space.
    – Work on adding up to 10 new trees along the high street.
    – Promote the Weybridge Wish List identifying improvements needed.

 

To be our most effective we need feedback on our plans and ideas and more input from people with creativity, vision, observant people who notice what is good and not so good in Weybridge and care enough to share their views and ideas.
Currently graphic design skills, design software knowhow or architects with town planning/landscaping experience would also help us.
Please make contact via placemaking@weybridgesociety.org.uk