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Spatial Quality Study Ecological-Psychological Studies. Consider the necessary changes in practice and attitude towards the land/environment implied by the philosophy of one Holistic Science Contents
Area of StudyThe area considered for study in this report is Halesworth, Suffolk. Halesworth is a market town of population about 4,400. It is located near the border of three district councils: Suffolk Coastal, Mid-Suffolk, and Waveney. It is quite a distance, more than 25 miles, from any of Suffolk’s main towns - Ipswich, Lowestoft, or Bury St Edmunds. So it has survived the trend for centralisation of much of today’s entertainment and shopping, and remains a local community. It is also off the tourist trail, with most tourists heading to the coast, eg Southwold and Aldeburgh, and not venturing inland.
Observation of how people use the areaLondon Road and other routes into townHere people meet each other on their way into and out of town. Two men were observed one morning leaning on the churchyard wall here. The pavement is not very wide here, but it was in the sunshine; most through traffic is diverted down Saxon Way, so London Road is not too busy at this point.
The churchyard itself provides a pleasant green area to walk through, but there are no seats and large trees make it very shaded. Where London road meets Chediston Street the churchyard is separated into an area known as the Arboretum. This is a circular space around the war memorial. This provides a pleasant enclosed space. In the morning one side gets full sunshine and people stop and talk here. Also there are two shelters, one on each side, They are painted black and do not show up in the attached photo which was taken at dusk. One of these is always in shade, and I have not seen it used. One person commented that she found the shelters a bit threatening, as it was not possible to see if anyone was in them before entering the space. Removing some of the side panels from the shelters could solve this. Also the shaded shelter might be re-sited in a sunnier spot in the churchyard, perhaps opposite the museum. At the Rifle Hall there are two seats outside facing the main road and a roundabout. These seats are in the morning sun but there are no reasons to stop here unless there is an event in the main hall, or in the evening teenagers sometimes gather here to see and be seen. Other similar places at the access points to the town centre are: -
This picture shows a cold north facing corner facing the road opposite the new library at Bridge street and Rectory road, but it is a good place to see who is going into town; and keep your motorbike on show. It is also near to a Chinese take-away with a slot machine, which attracts a lot of youngsters, especially boys, in the evening. The planters and trees also help to break up the space so that a single person doesn’t feel too exposed sitting here.
Thoroughfare
The Thoroughfare is now Halesworth’s main shopping street. It was recently pedestianised with brick paving and this has made a big difference to the feel of the town. People now stop and chat wherever they meet. As shown in this photo in front of a bank’s cashpoint lobby. This is in the shade, but on this day not too windy. Many shops in Halesworth are now entered via a lobby where the building’s use has been changed over the years, rather than directly off the street. People were also seen to stand in front of the lobby entrance to Pinky’s restaurant and the picture framing shop in Chediston Street. Perhaps it gives more a sense of position than standing in front of a wall or window. In Chediston Street, which is not pedestrianised, it may be that there is not the feeling of being crowded against a wall, and being able to step aside if needed to let someone pass.
On the opposite side of the Throughfare to the bank there are benches and planters that get the morning sun. This is an area of busy shops and attracts lots of people. All ages and social groupings, families, individuals, friends etc. were seen using these benches and planters to rest on, or wait by. For example: for one person to hold a dog whilst another went into a shop. (many shops in Halesworth also have hooks outside for shoppers to tie their dogs to) These benches have no backs, so users could choose which way to face, but all people, young and old, were observed to choose to face the shops, away from the main street; the bollards, lampposts and planters prevent anyone on the street getting uncomfortably close behind. The planters were seen to provide good climbing and play equipment for several 5-6 year old children, eg walking around the edges. This seems to be an extremely successful arrangement of shops, street furniture and simple planting; it is well used and it is recommended that this is not altered. The pedestrianised Thoroughfare-Bridge Street is now used for occasional popular themed events, eg antiques and food fairs. The area supports these events, but is not changed by them; it does not feel empty the way some permanent street markets can when the stalls leave. (The Market Square itself is well used as free car parking space when the weekly market is not on)
Bridge Street.
The Thoroughfare and Bridge Street are two ends of the same small pedestrian precinct. The street actually curves slightly so that it is not possible to look down the full length from any point. As can be seen from the above photographs people do not seem to meet, or sit and wait, on this part of the street; yet there are ducks to feed here. This may be in part due to the nature of the shops, eg antiques, electrical goods, and cheap household wares. This area by the bridge also feels windier and colder than the southern end. The street furniture is the same all along the pedestrianised area, yet it feels exposed. That the area here may not be suitable for outside seating could be indicated by the fact that the Bridge café does not put seats outside; although there could be other operational, or regulatory, reasons for this. The café has recently changed hands and has plans to open a courtyard out the back. Currently there is repair work being carried out in the middle of the Thoroughfare that further helps to divide the two ends, and stop people walking to the Bridge Street end.
The new library faces down Bridge street. It is a "modern", mostly glass, building, but it is in scale and has a curved frontage, which is not intimidating. Yet perhaps it is a reason and a focus for many people coming to this end of the town and by being a different, more striking, building than the rest of the street, perhaps it draws people to it, so they do not stand in the street opposite. (photo by Suffolk County Council [11]) It seems that Bridge Street is different in character to the Thoroughfare by not being a place for daily shopping. The following suggestions are to make a feature of its less crowded nature, and to try to make it more like a park, or refuge, where people could stop for a break. It may also function as a tourist attraction, ie something noteworthy to visit Halesworth to see.
Rectory WalkThis is a pleasant walk through from the top of Bridge Street by the Library, to opposite the cobblers in Cheddiston Street. Mostly it runs between walls and fences of people’s gardens. It would have been used more before the Thoroughfare was pedestrianised as a way to avoid the traffic. It is a quiet place and a lot of birdsong can be heard.
The river at this point is not particularly scenic. However, it at least has not been covered over, as in Idar-Oberstein, Germany as shown on the cover of [5] where a road was built along the course of the river. The river was once navigable to Halesworth, but the lock gates have fallen into disrepair and now need replacement. Their repair could help keep the river level higher and give a less abandoned look by covering the concrete of the river course. The particular bench shown in this photograph is sited well, back against a wall and south facing, so it is a comfortable microclimate. However there is nothing to stop here for. Some simple changes to this spot could be: -
There are plans to build a new Blyth Valley Centre [10], including café, crèche, meeting rooms, theatre etc, on the opposite bank to Rectory Walk. It will be desirable to connect to it, perhaps via a new bridge. This is on currently unused and overgrown land between Cheddiston Street and the Thoroughfare. The development of this site needs to be very sensitive to the wildlife that has managed to flourish here undisturbed.
Other FootpathsAround Halesworth are a number of footpaths. These are supported by Suffolk County Council run Parish Paths Partnership scheme. The Blyth Valley Community Footpath Group is surveying the local footpaths with a view to improving access to the surrounding countryside. Maintenance is an important feature to provide a clear and dry path; muddy, and/or overgrown, paths discourage users very quickly. Dog walkers regularly walk the majority of the local footpaths out of town, and these are probably 90% of all walkers [9]. One problem for non-dog walkers is the feeling of vulnerability. In an urban landscape one method to help people feel more confidant is to avoid any hiding spaces. In the countryside, however, the large arable fields are unpleasant to walk through, boring, very hot and dusty in summer, windy in winter. People generally prefer walking through small, hedged meadows. The Environment group [9] is intending to purchase the water meadows near the town centre. This should provide a pleasant, yet open, environment in which to walk. Non-dog walkers also like to have an objective for their walk, a local feature is the Folly, and the footpaths to this have recently been improved. With the water meadows some similar feature should be considered. Way-marking is also important, for example circular trails so that people can know how far they will walk, and should not get lost. Jogging trails could also be an important feature. Joggers currently use local roads, which are not very safe or pleasant. Joggers require a good surface, and segregation from other footpath users.
Evaluation of resultsThe pedestrianisation of the main shopping street is a key feature in allowing people to use the town in a relaxed manner. The river is not used as a feature; it has become rather neglected. But schemes such as public access to the water meadows [9], and the Blyth Valley Centre [10], should help make the most of it.
ConclusionHalesworth benefits from being a pedestrianised town centre that has had not major developments that have changed its character and scale. The regeneration schemes are working, with a lot of public consultation, to evolve the town and its environment to meet the needs of the people today. References/SourcesLandscape & memory. Simon Schama 1995 ISBN 0 00 215897 3 Landscape Planning an Environmental Impact Design Tom Turner 1998 ISBN 1-85728-321-X Microclimatic Landscape Design R Brown & T. Gillespie 1995 ISBN 0-471-05667-7 The Green Imperative Victor Papanek 1995 ISBN 0-500-27846-6 Greening the built Environment. M Smith, J Whitelegg & N Williams. 1998 ISBN 1 85383 403 3 [5] published by http://www.earthscan.co.ukEcology and Design in Landscape ed. A Bradshaw, D Goode & E. Thorpe 1986 ISBN 0-632-01408-3 Flora Britannica Richard Maby, 1996 ISBN 1 85619 377 2 Halesworth environment group, Judith Woolnough, Halesworth. Halesworth & Blyth Valley Centre Feasibility Study. Architype 1999 Suffolk County Council http://www.suffolkcc.gov.uk/
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