Should the SPD include guidance in relation to the public realm and improving permeability and connectivity in Orpington Town Centre?

Mostly positive

How inviting is the town centre public realm currently? What elements of the public realm do you think are good and bad?

Having a cinema is good. Certain independent restaurants are good. The market is generally poor. The high street is unattractive, noisy and polluted. The crowd attracted to the town on weekend evenings is off putting.

What could be done to make the town centre a place where people will want to dwell?

Pedestrianise more areas. Greening. Encourage more sophisticated leisure opportunities

How easy is it to navigate through and within the town centre?

Easy

Do you have any other comments in relation to public realm, permeability and connectivity in Orpington Town Centre?

Tram would be good.

Should the SPD include guidance in relation to the public realm and improving permeability and connectivity in Orpington Town Centre?

Positive

How inviting is the town centre public realm currently? What elements of the public realm do you think are good and bad?

The public space is dominated by traffic all along the High Street. While busses are a good thing, the fact that all the bus routes go along the High Street does mean that there is a constant flow of heavy traffic. The knock on is that there is very limited opportunity to widen pavements or include cycle provision.

Should the SPD include guidance in relation to the public realm and improving permeability and connectivity in Orpington Town Centre?

Positive

How inviting is the town centre public realm currently? What elements of the public realm do you think are good and bad?

I like the parts where the road and pavement run into each other (though not sure how safe this is). I think there is too much heavy traffic on the high street, all focused on getting down the street so that it’s actually quite a dangerous place with small children. I definitely think this could be made safer by pedestrianising part/all of it or restricting the traffic that can come down.

What could be done to make the town centre a place where people will want to dwell?

Less buses rumbling by and less ambulances/police sirens screaming down.

How easy is it to navigate through and within the town centre?

You can only cross the road at the crossings because there’s so much traffic. It does make you feel like the vehicles have priority over pedestrians. There’s also quite a lot of street furniture (bus stops, bind, signs, seats, etc which creates punch points especially around McDonalds and outside the London on the other side, and outside the old Post Office/Boots. This isn’t great for social distancing. It can be difficult to cross at the bottom of The Knoll with cars turning in and out sometimes quite aggressively (in part because the High Street crawls so drivers accelerate into any space they can get into). The pavement by Edinburgh Woollen Mills is especially congested thanks to the bus stop here too.

Do you have any other comments in relation to public realm, permeability and connectivity in Orpington Town Centre?

The far end of the high st (towards the priory) is a bit of a dead zone as the Walnuts sucks most visitors in. Could there be better shops to attract people to this end. Please no more vape shops!! Or shops selling mattresses - they make the high street look like a real dump.

Should the SPD include guidance in relation to the public realm and improving permeability and connectivity in Orpington Town Centre?

Neutral

How inviting is the town centre public realm currently? What elements of the public realm do you think are good and bad?

The high street is crowded with traffic - on weekends feels noisy & polluted.

How easy is it to navigate through and within the town centre?

Side streets that junction on to high street can be difficult to cross. It is difficult to access the leisure centre from the high street side. The steps are almost hidden! And there are no signs. I don’t know what the solution is, but it would be nice to integrate the leisure centre with the town rather than having it facing away.

Should the SPD include guidance in relation to the public realm and improving permeability and connectivity in Orpington Town Centre?

Positive

How inviting is the town centre public realm currently? What elements of the public realm do you think are good and bad?

Public realm is not inviting as pavements are crowded and cars dominate the town centre.

What could be done to make the town centre a place where people will want to dwell?

Make it car free.

How easy is it to navigate through and within the town centre?

Not easy doe to car dominance. Pedestrianize with clear cycle lanes and room for invalid vehicles.

Do you have any other comments in relation to public realm, permeability and connectivity in Orpington Town Centre?

Think from a walking and cycling point of view. Ensure that you have disabled members, walking and cycling members on your planning committee. Councillors - walk about yourselves to get the feeling. Cycle and see how frightening it is. Try doing time in a wheel chair to feel how it is. Think of all ages. Remember that young children in pushchairs are at the level to breathe the worst car fumes. Make the public realm fun and enjoyable for all - old and young. Think green.