Totton's ‘Legoland’ shops revamp rejected (From This is Hampshire)
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Totton's ‘Legoland’ shops revamp rejected
8:20am Saturday 13th March 2010 in
-
- By Chris Yandell » Chief Reporter, New Forest
PLANNING chiefs have rejected a “Legoland”
attempt to improve the appearance of Totton’s main shopping precinct.
They criticised proposals to build what they described as two “box-like” arches at the entrances to Totton Shopping Centre in Commercial Road.
The 25ft tall arches formed part of a £250,000 scheme that also included canopies, new benches and improved lighting.
Kim Morris, representing the applicant, said the plan aimed to revitalise the precinct, which was built in the late 1960s and now looked “tired and dated”.
However, district councillors went against the advice of officers and rejected the plans.
Totton member Ron Scrivens said: “I’m amazed we’re being told that this scheme is acceptable.
What’s attractive about it?
Nothing. Totton is a New Forest market town and the application should reflect that, but it’s harsh and out of keeping.
“I’ve spoken to a lot of Totton residents and I haven’t found one person who likes the design.”
Cllr Maureen Holding added: “On a wet day the precinct looks very Sixties and really drab.
“It definitely needs something doing to it but what’s being suggested doesn’t fit the bill.”
Totton councillor George Dart said the town council welcomed moves to refurbish the precinct, which has more than 20 shops.
But he added: “The box-like archways being proposed are something of a stumbling block.
They’re reminiscent of the Legoland approach to design.”
Planning officers recommended members to support the application, submitted by the precinct’s owner CBRE Investors. A report said: “The entrance arches would be quite striking features at the two ends of the precinct. They would be focal points that would increase the sense of arrival and define the new pedestrianised courtyard behind.”
Councillors rejected the application by ten votes to seven.
Comments(8)
sooey
says...
10:26am Sat 13 Mar 10
Ringwood and Hythe are New Forest market towns, Totton is nothing.
We dont even have a market anymore.
As a Totton resident for way too long myself I personally believe that you could put anything you like at the ends of the precinct, it wont change the drab soul-less place one bit.
The best shops we have are not even in the precinct anyway. If you want to make it more desirable try encouraging some more interesting businesses to set up there.
Redback
says...
10:48am Sat 13 Mar 10
New Forest market town my ****.
geoff51
says...
3:45pm Sat 13 Mar 10
Redback wrote:Yea but its a hell of a lot better place to live in than the dump that Southampton has become.
Totton's a run-down suburb on the edge of an industrial cess-pit. New Forest market town my ****.
Even my old stomping ground in Shirley has become a carbon copy high street since all the family run shops have gone to be replced with
building societeis, estate agents, Take aways and ethnic grocers
Totton has one saving grace and that a river has prevented it from becoming another suburb of Southampton
geoff51
says...
3:52pm Sat 13 Mar 10
Jammy Donut wrote:Thankfully a river has prevented Totton from becoming a suburb of Southampton.
"Totton a New Forest Market Town" run down suburb of Southampton would be a better description
I for one have no regrets about moving to Totton 10 years ago from Southampton, I at least can sleep soundly in my bed without listening to the traffic and yobbos and drunks shouting and fighting from one end of Shirley high street to Maybush corner
warness
says...
5:49pm Sat 13 Mar 10
Rembrandts was renamed, the Bolts shop moved to bishopstoke, and the Golden Pan took their clock down.
The dichotomy is that Totton is too near the big city, and Saturday shopping is more of a social outing than a functional exercise. No facelift will atract locals to shop locally, except for a pint of milk, and Asda is already there.
A good dentist would benefit the residents of Totton, from the brown, gappy smiles I endured at Asda this morning
Redback
says...
6:39pm Sat 13 Mar 10
geoff51 wrote:Funnily enough, I find Shirley to be the one area of Southampton left that has any character at all! Maybe not the shops, but the old-school Shirley boys (and girls) are still evident. That's a large part of why I moved here from Merryoak/Woolston.
Redback wrote:Yea but its a hell of a lot better place to live in than the dump that Southampton has become.
Totton's a run-down suburb on the edge of an industrial cess-pit. New Forest market town my ****.
Even my old stomping ground in Shirley has become a carbon copy high street since all the family run shops have gone to be replced with
building societeis, estate agents, Take aways and ethnic grocers
Totton has one saving grace and that a river has prevented it from becoming another suburb of Southampton
Condor Man
says...
6:43pm Sat 13 Mar 10
Redback wrote:was the other reason because you were living in Merry Oak?
geoff51 wrote:Funnily enough, I find Shirley to be the one area of Southampton left that has any character at all! Maybe not the shops, but the old-school Shirley boys (and girls) are still evident. That's a large part of why I moved here from Merryoak/Woolston.Redback wrote: Totton's a run-down suburb on the edge of an industrial cess-pit. New Forest market town my ****.Yea but its a hell of a lot better place to live in than the dump that Southampton has become. Even my old stomping ground in Shirley has become a carbon copy high street since all the family run shops have gone to be replced with building societeis, estate agents, Take aways and ethnic grocers Totton has one saving grace and that a river has prevented it from becoming another suburb of Southampton
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Jammy Donut says...
9:12am Sat 13 Mar 10
run down suburb of Southampton
would be a better description