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Commitment to move town's vision onward
One of the leading lights behind the vision for Rushden's future has said it will be built on straight away.
Prince Charles' architects from the Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment have produced an ambitious set of plans for Rushden's regeneration, including proposals for the creation of new community centres, parks and commercial buildings, for East Northamptonshire Council.
The draft proposals were revealed by the Evening Telegraph last month and the district council's chief executive, David Oliver, has said although the last great vision for Rushden, the 2005 Rushden Masterplan, did not progress, the latest plan had been designed with practicalities in mind so it can be realised.
He said: "The problem with the previous plan was it identified too many different sites and, although it had good ideas, many of them weren't possible because the pieces of land weren't in public ownership.
"This plan identifies several sites, including Splash Pool, which are publicly owned which gives us more control. We specifically asked the Prince's Foundation to look at these sites because we knew then we would have something that we would have more ability to deliver, because they were in our control."
More work is being carried out on the proposals this summer.
Mr Oliver added: "We want to be able to demonstrate we are moving things on as quickly as we realistically can. The High Street is the first priority for us so we are going to do a piece of work on that next. It's clearly not going to happen overnight but we want to make sure we build on the work we have done so far straight away."
The new proposals include the creation of a new central square in High Street and transforming Alfred Street Junior School into a community hub, if it merges with Tennyson Road Infants and the pupils move.
Other ideas include transforming Splash Pool into a community park and a place for public sector buildings when the new leisure centre is built at Manor Park.
The Evening Telegraph wants to know what Rushden residents think about the plans and what you would like to see happen.
If you have questions for us to put to the council send them to Evening Telegraph, 59-61 High Street, Rushden, or email nick.tite@jpress.co.uk.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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