www.midsuffolk.gov.uk

Q1. Should larger national multiple stores be encouraged to Stowmarket?

Yes No Don't know

OR

Should Stowmarket concentrate on attracting independent retailers?

Yes No Don't know

Q2. Do you think the main high street should have wine bars and restaurants?

Yes No Don't know

Q3. Should the local council assemble the land on the Ipswich Street West site (Strickland Road to the United Reform Church) for new shopping development?

Yes No Don't know

Q4. Should retail use be considered on Gipping Way?

Yes No Don't know

Tell us what you think... Is there any store in particular you'd like to see in Stowmarket? Is the town missing any particular types of shop? Click here to take part in the debate at the Stowmarket Masterplan Blog.

Q5. A lack of affordable pre-school places was identified during the Council's consultation earlier in the year. Are more affordable pre-school facilities now needed?

Yes No Don't know

Q6. Should the responsible county officer be asked to liaise with young people via the Stowmarket Town Forum on what they would like in Stowmarket?

Yes No Don't know

Q7. Are more community facilities needed?

Yes No Don't know

Q8. Cedars Park is growing, so does it need its own community space?

Yes No Don't know

The Village Centre design is being considered at present. Do you think this is the best

location for a dedicated space?

Yes No Don't know

Q9. Is a new religious centre needed on Cedars Park?

Yes No Don't know

Q10. Is there a need for more informal open space and a playing field in Cedars Park?

Yes No Don't know

Q11. Is there a need for a local 'corner shop' on Cedars Park?

Yes No Don't know

Q12. Is there a need for a family restaurant/pub on Cedars Park?

Yes No Don't know

Tell us more... What community facilities would you like to see in Stowmarket? Who do you think could provide and run new facilities? Where should new facilities be located? Click here to add your thoughts and comments to the Stowmarket Masterplan Blog.

Police

Q13. Community associations have suggested that there's a need for longer opening hours and better facilities at the police station. Do you agree?

Yes No Don't know Sports clubs

Q14. Aside from sport, Stowmarket Town Football Club is also used for many community activities. Does it need a secure long term base?

Yes No Don't know Children's Play

Q15. Are there enough play areas for children in each of the following ages?

Leisure

Q16. The Leisure Centre is likely to need either rebuilding or expanding and refurbishing in the next 10 years to meet the needs of the growing town. If the Leisure Centre is re-provided, where should it be located?

Where it is now - in the part of town next to the schools? This would allow car parks, cycle paths and other facilities to be shared more effectively.

Yes No Don't know

OR

On part of the flood plain where it would be unwise to build housing because of the risk of flooding? This would free up the existing site for new homes.

Yes No Don't know

Q17. Where is the best place for leisure activities:

In the middle of town

Yes No Don't know

OR

On the edge of the town?

Yes No Don't know

Q18. Should employment sites include some sporting and recreation provision?

Yes No Don't know

Q19. The Bowling Green in the centre of town between ASDA and Tavern Street is well located for public transport users. Do you think it should remain in this location?

Yes No Don't know

Q20. We can make more use of the local schools for leisure activities under the Extended Schools policy. Do you support this approach?

Yes No Don't know Health

Q21. Is there a need for another dentist?

Yes No Don't know

Q22. Are more GPs needed?

Yes No Don't know

Q23. Should the Primary Care Trust responsible for the location of health facilities be asked to consider an additional GP facility in the Cedars Park development?

Yes No Don't know

Have your say...We'd like to hear your thoughts on health and leisure facilities in the Stowmarket area. Click here to add your comments to the Stowmarket Masterplan Blog.

Bus interchange

Q24. The idea of having a Stowmarket bus interchange has been discussed for several years. Although several sites have been suggested, none meet the needs of bus operators. Should a bus interchange be a priority?

Yes No Don't know Parking and taxis

Q25. Do you think a review is needed of disabled parking allocations?

Yes No Don't know

Q26. Do we need to review the location of taxi ranks?

Yes No Don't know

Q27. Do there need to be more taxis for use by the growing elderly population and more accessible taxis for disabled people?

Yes No Don't know

Q28. The existing taxi office by the station may be redeveloped. Should the station have a taxi rank?

Yes No Don't know

Q29. Are more car parks needed?

Yes No Don't know Cycle routes

Q30. Cycle Route 51 currently has gaps: in the section from Stowmarket to Onehouse and through the town centre (in particular, across Camping Land - from Crowe Street across the open space next to the wall around Abbott's Hall). Is completing this cycle route a priority?

Yes No Don't know

Q31. Should it be a priority to provide cycle links with the train station?

Yes No Don't know

Q32. Do we need safe cycle routes to school, particularly on Finborough Road?

Yes No Don't know

Q33. Should Camping Land footpath also be a designated cycle path?

Yes No Don't know Footpaths

Q34. Stowhealth Health Centre on Violet Hill is not easy to access on foot. Should the Town Council improve the cemetery footpath to make access from Bury Road to Stowhealth easier?

Yes No Don't know Lorry parking

Q35. Lorries park next to Tesco on a regular basis, although there is a lorry park on Gipping Way near to the ICI plant. It's possible that the lorry park isn't well known to drivers. Should there be investment in the lorry park on Gipping Way and extra signage for it?

Yes No Don't know

Q36. Is there a need for additional lorry park facilities?

Yes No Don't know

Q37. Should the A14 have a dedicated lorry park for the needs of lorry drivers who now park on the roads around Tesco?

Yes No Don't know

Have your say... If you think there are other, more important, issues related to parking, or getting around the area by bike, taxi or on foot, we'd like to hear what they are. Click here to add your comments to the Stowmarket Masterplan Blog.

Q38. Should one or two sites along the Gipping Valley without a flood risk designation be developed for houses?

Yes No Don't know

Q39. The former Atco-Bosch site is by the river, close to the Seaman's Yard area where retail development is proposed. Although it is separated from the town centre by Gipping Way, it is well connected to the rail and road systems. Do you think that part of this brownfield site should be considered for residential use?

Yes No Don't know

Q40. Do you agree there should be more housing sites on the edge of town?

Yes No Don't know

Do you think central locations are better suited to housing with employment sites on the edge of town?

Yes No Don't know

Q41. There is a need for affordable housing in the area for key workers and those on low incomes, especially in the villages. Providers of affordable housing are attracted to larger sites, since small sites are uneconomic to develop and manage. However, some parishes have said they don't want new housing sites to be for more than ten homes.

Should these villages consider approving larger sites to ensure they don't miss out on affordable housing?

Yes No Don't know

Should some sites of the right size be made available exclusively for affordable housing?

Yes No Don't know

Should affordable housing be integrated with standard housing on larger sites?

Yes No Don't know

Tell us more... Where do you think new housing development should go? How should we deliver affordable housing? Click here to join the debate on the Stowmarket Masterplan Blog.

Q42. Do you agree that there is still a need to engage positively with local employers to seek to improve skills and opportunities locally?

Yes No Don't know

Q43. Should a new University of Suffolk learning centre be located in Stowmarket?

Yes No Don't know

Q44. Would it be preferable to have employment in the area concentrated on fewer sites but with a greater number of jobs created on each site?

Yes No Don't know

Q45. Should all the 20 acres (8 hectares) of land south of the spine road through Cedars Park (designated for employment use in the original Cedars Park masterplan) still be allocated for business and industrial land?

Yes No Don't know

OR

Should any of it be released for retail use, such as a DIY store?

Yes No Don't know

Tell us what you think... Please join the debate on Sotwmarket's economy. Are there enough good jobs on offer? How can we attract employers and improve skills? Click here to add your comments to the Stowmarket Masterplan Blog.

Q46. Should a detailed landscape plan be approved for the employment area in Cedars Park?

Yes No Don't know

Q47. The area around Stowmarket station gives visitors their first impression of Stowmarket. The station itself has good quality buildings with Victorian brick detailing, and is close to the River Gipping path, but it is surrounded by many poor quality buildings and derelict areas. In light of this, do you think the surroundings of the station need upgrading?

Yes No Don't know

Q48. There are several open spaces in Stowmarket: next to the Museum and Abbots Hall; the Churchyard; Gipping Valley; River Rattlesden; Pike's Meadow; and the Museum water meadows; with links out to Combs Ford, the Recreation Ground to Chilton Fields, and north past the Football Club up the river Gipping. The 'Necklace of Emeralds' is a concept for a path linking them together. Do you support this proposal?

Yes No Don't know

Q49. Are there sufficient green spaces in the residential areas of the town?

Yes No Don't know

Q50. Should the footpath width along the Gipping River be increased as part of a requirement for developing the adjoining sites?

Yes No Don't know

Tell us what you think... Please join the debate on green open spaces in Stowmarket. What are your ideas for the sites? What do we need to do to make the most of our green space? Click here to add your comments to the Stowmarket Masterplan Blog.