Category Archives: Benches

Benches, Faversham Plan, Governance, Transport, Yellow Lines

Faversham’s “Pedestrian Zone” is in fact a car parking free-for-all

23/05/2018 Tim Stonor 1 Comment

This is Faversham’s Pedestrian Zone. Filled with cars. Since Faversham Town Council painted #YellowLines around the historic Guildhall, parking officers – by their own admission – no longer consider the PZ valid & won’t ticket anyone parking there.

This is a scandal & the Council should apologise. Until @favershamtc takes a comprehensive look at town centre parking it is doing more damage than good. I predict someone will suggest yellow lines are the answer. No: planters, bollards, benches, gates & a #TransportPlan are!

Benches, Faversham Plan, Transport, Yellow Lines

Faversham Guildhall in Bloom

06/08/2016 Tim Stonor 4 Comments

How can the space around the Guildhall in Faversham be improved?

How can the heart of the town look more attractive to residents and visitors alike?

How can vehicles be prevented from parking outside and blocking the view of the historic Guildhall?

How can outdoor dining be better accommodated?

How can more safe space be made for pedestrians?

In response to these questions Morrison Brink Stonor Architects has developed a proposal to extend the stone plinth beneath the Guildhall, thereby removing the space available for vehicles to park there. And we’ve added planters to further dissuade drivers.

This is a first sketch of the design concept. The planters could be differently shaped. They could be replaced with bollards. They could incorporate benches. There could be more of them or fewer of them. They could be on lockable wheels. Or the market could work around them.

There will be a cost to extending the plinth but the planters could be put in place first.

It’s a vision of how Faversham could be. And of course it’s a pleasant alternative to painting double yellow lines around the Guildhall, lines that won’t even stop vehicles parking in front of the Guildhall because Blue Badge holders will still be able to park on them.

Next steps are to consult with the Town and Borough Councils, Faversham Society and people generally. We’ve taken some initial soundings and had positive responses. Quite rightly several people said this could only go ahead if it didn’t interrupt the market. We have had an initial meeting with the Market Manager and the idea was well received since it makes the market bigger and better by removing vehicles and parking.

Benches, Faversham Plan

A bench for Faversham

24/10/2015 Tim Stonor 1 Comment

The Mayor’s call for more benches in Faversham presents designers with a wonderful opportunity to create a bench that is fit for purpose at the heart of an ancient and forward-looking town.

What might the brief for this bench include? I suggest the bench needs to be:

beautiful – an object that is a pleasure to look at and that fits harmoniously within the historic fabric of the town centre

robust – able to stand up to wear and tear, not only from occasional anti-social abuse but also from frequent pro-social use, and of course from the weather

useful – certainly a place to sit on but perhaps also an object to lean on while pausing to catch your breath; a bench that can be moved easily to accommodate the needs of the market and special occasions such as the Hop Festival.

Such demands are not unusual. Fortunately for Faversham the world is full of good examples that we can learn from.

These benches in London include planters and can be moved around to suit needs:

In Central Square, Cambridge MA this bench incorporates technology that captures the power of the sun and provides a charging point for mobile phones:

Next steps for technology will be to use solar power to create a local wifi network and to power LED lighting.

In Harvard Yard, Cambridge MA, colourful seats (first seen in the Jardin de Luxembourg in Paris) have been placed in a historic public setting. The seats can be moved around by people to suit personal preferences – a quiet read or a public conversation:

These are just a few examples of what is possible. What does it mean for the future of Faversham’s benches?

Benches, Faversham Plan, Governance

Off your backsides, everyone! There’s work to be done.

20/10/2015 Tim Stonor 7 Comments

Yesterday evening Faversham Town Council threw down the gauntlet/avoided its responsibilities (take your pick) to the people of Faversham: “Tell us where you want us to put benches.”

Cllr Wilcox claimed the “problem” (there’s always a “problem”) is that whenever a bench is proposed, the shop it’s outside of complains about the anti-social impact it will have.

Cllr Simmons cleverly suggested the solution might be to propose 6 benches, thereby spreading the pain. Not a bad idea – but how about 60? Or 160?

Cllr Martin offered an imaginative proposal to avoid painting Yellow Lines around the Guildhall: encircle it with benches instead! I think this is an idea worthy of further investigation.

Perhaps only one or two judiciously placed benches could solve the “problem” of people parking on the west side of the Guildhall. These might be heavy, moveable benches that can be wheeled away on market days and in an emergency. Other towns do this so why can’t Faversham?

Tim Stonor for Faversham