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Promenade tarmac scheme slammed by civic society

Carmelo Garcia
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Carmelo Garcia A view across the Cheltenham promenade with a large map sign in the foreground. In the background you can see shoppers walking along the flagstones, and the street is lined with mature trees. benches and statues. Carmelo Garcia
Concerns have been raised over whether the proposed changes could damage the town's heritage

Plans to remove historic flagstones and replace them with tarmac on a historic street have been slammed by a civic society.

Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) and Cheltenham Borough Council (CBC) have said proposed changes to the layout of the Promenade in Cheltenham town centre are essential to enable vehicle access.

But Cheltenham Civic Society (CCS) said it is concerned the scheme is an attempt to "fix Cheltenham on the cheap" and that it will damage the town's heritage and detract from its appeal to visitors.

However, GCC leader Stephen Davies said the scheme had been designed with Cheltenham's "vibrant market town centre" at the forefront.

Gloucestershire Archives An archived black and white picture of Cheltenham's promenade in 1818. The grainy photo shows the street full of people in Regency clothing with outdoor seating areas and trees lining the street.Gloucestershire Archives
The popular Promenade was established in 1818 during the Regency era

The councils are aiming to save money after spending about £100,000 this year alone on "tarmac cowpat" repairs and replacing broken York stone paving

They are considering the removal of some of the York stone outside Cavendish House and replacing them with a strip of tarmac.

The scheme would involve removing paving stones down the centre of the Promenade and replacing them with a tarmac and buff coloured strip flanked by bollards to prevent vehicles driving onto the remaining stone paving.

The plans, discussed at a meeting on 4 March, could happen as soon as May according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

CCS A rough sketch showing what the resurfacing plan is. It shows the layout of the long straight promenade, with a tarmac road going down the middle. There are two arrows which say 'all bollards reinstated' and 'stone paving removed and replaced with tarmac'. CCS
The scheme would reduce the risk of vehicles damaging the remaining flagstones, say the councils

Andrew Booton, chair of CCS, described the scheme as an impulsive response to poor maintenance.

"Let's not forget, the roads were in that state because GCC had neglected them," he said.

"And because CBC, the supposed guardian of our public realm, took no interest in pushing GCC to address their terrible state.

"Their badly-installed reinstatements keep failing due to poor workmanship."

Carmelo Garcia Andrew Booton standing in the middle of the promenade, wearing dark blue jeans and a blue striped jumper. He has short grey curly hair and is looking at the camera with a serious expression. His right hand is resting on top of a black bollard, while his other hand is in his front jeans pocket. Behind him you can see shoppers walking down the road. Beneath his feet there is a large patch of tarmac with has been laid to replace the broken paving stones with cover the rest of the street.Carmelo Garcia
Andrew Booton said the Promenade plays an essential role in the town's history

Mr Booton said the Promenade, home to numerous listed buildings, is the town's "social and emotional barometer" and must be protected.

"When the Prom looks sad with empty shops, the rest of the town feels it," he continued.

"Every time CBC and GCC's fingerprints touch our historic fabric, a little bit more of the town's heritage is compromised or disappears altogether.

"We cannot trust them to do what is right. We constantly have to fight against mediocrity, laziness and apathy."

Carmelo Garcia A close-up of the 'tarmac cowpat' on Cheltenham's Promenade. A large patch of asphalt sticks out, surrounded by stone paving slabs. Shoppers can be seen walking in the distance. There are trees lining the Promenade, as well as benches and statues.Carmelo Garcia
Flagstones have been damaged by repeated vehicle access for busy market events

Davies said he was "surprised" at the reaction from CCS.

The GCC leader said: "They are aware of the challenges in getting the right balance at this location.

"The option that we have chosen provides an attractive, hard-wearing surface that's smoother and more accessible to visitors.

"The materials and repairs will be easier to source, so utility companies will be able to provide an instant repair following their work, and this will also be more cost-effective in the long-term."

CBC said it is committed to raising the standard of the quality of the town centre and has consistently lobbied GCC to support this.

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