Aylesbury Vale Advantage (AVA) has funded the development of: The Aylesbury Town Centre Parking and Access Study and Changes to Friarage Road, part of Aylesbury’s Inner Ring Road.
Aylesbury’s Town Centre Parking and Access Study
The study is to review exisitng parking practices and to recommend future direction and options on access issues, management and required improvements /opportunities for all vehicular, pedestrian and cycle movement in and around the town centre for the intermediate and longer term. The study also includes a spatial movement analysis of the existing pedestian and cyclist movement to determine key acccess routes; information which will be required to inform any future streetscape improvement areas.
The study may inform district and county authority future policies including the developing Town Centre Implementation Plan which support’s Aylesbury’s development as an economically vibrant town where people choose to live, work and shop.
More people, including visitors, employers and existing / new residents are likely to require access to the town centre over the coming years. For example, residents of the new housing at Berryfields and Weedon Hill and visitors and employees of the recent and planned enhancements to the retail / leisure / employment offer in the town centre on Exchange Street will create journeys to the town centre. These changes and others arising, for example, from the needs of an ageing population will influence parking requirements during future years.
Changes to Friarage Road, part of Aylesbury’s Inner Ring Road
Aylesbury’s Inner Ring Road facilitates the flow of traffic through Aylesbury Town though this through traffic is a small proportion of the traffic volume on the road. The Inner Ring Road also acts, in places, as a barrier to the growing need by pedestrians to cross the ring road to access new retail / leisure / employment and public transport facilities. Aylesbury Vale Advantage has funded these changes to Friarage Road / Inner Ring Road; changes which are based on the experience of other towns who have similar constraints.
These changes and the increase in pedestrians crossing the road may encourage a change in driving behaviour making a more pedestrian friendly environment while maintaining traffic flows. The narrowing of the carriageways will result in drivers’ becoming more aware of being in ‘a different kind of environment’ i.e. within a town centre will a greater need to be alert to pedestrians.
The end result will also enhance the public realm in the immediate locality thereby connecting the new public realm provision with the South Exchange Street development are to the enhanced Station Boulevard – Transport Hub and beyond to the roundabout at the foot of Rickford’s Hill; an overall gain for Aylesbury’s visitors and residents who access the town centre’s retail and evening leisure / cultural offer.
