Hertford East improvements proposed

Hertfordshire County Council have revealed plans to improve the area around Hertford East station, with a new car park, taxi rank, improved road layout and landscaping.

The council are currently holding an online consultation on the plans with local residents invited to provide feedback.

The Materplan includes:

• A new signalised junction with Oxford Street style crossing to provide a safe space to pedestrians and cyclists to cross in all  directions, including diagonally, while traffic will be stopped, reducing the risks of conflict.
• A new taxi rank with dedicated electric charging stations to replace the current car park in Railway Street, with direct access to a pickup/drop-off area next to the South portico entrance.
• A new central reservation in front of the Mill Road entrance.
• A new car park to the north of the station using the former sidings, including bays for station users, nursery bays, disabled bays, kiss and drop bays and electric charging points.
• Two secured bike hubs south and north of the station
• A bus gate (bus only exit) to support sustainable modes of transport giving local buses priority over other vehicles. Claude Hamilton Way will to longer be accessible from Mill Road, and will be exit only for buses. Residents and car park users will access and exit Claude Hamilton Way from Mead Lane.

The proposals aim to enhance pedestrian, cycling and sustainable transport links to and from the site, as well as de-cluttering through the use of a 'unified material palette', with lighting sympathetic to the local landscape.

Funding for the scheme will be provided by developers, the county council and rail companies, with work planned for 2023/24 and subject to land agreements with train operating company Greater Anglia.

Why are the works needed?

Hertford East is set in a generally attractive context and linked to easy-to-reach areas, but its public realm is confusing and car dominated, and lacks a distinct sense of place and arrival.

From the analysis and traffic surveys it is clear that the essence of the problem is mainly related to fast moving vehicles on Railway Street and Mill Road, rather than a high volume of motorised vehicles passing through.

High traffic volumes and congestion on the A414 and roundabout have a knock-on effect on the surrounding street network, including Mill Road and Railway Street.

The existing open space is motor-vehicle dominated and squeezes pedestrians onto narrow pavements which further diminishes desire lines and links to the surrounding street network, in particular Railway Street to the town centre

:: Hertfordshire County Council

The online consultation is open until Sunday 30th October, with visw being taklen in to account as part of the detailed design process.