final report for phase two pulborough hub feasibility ... report for...final report for phase two...

Final Report

For

Phase Two

Pulborough Hub Feasibility

November 2013

Version 06.1

M A R K L E W I S D E S I G N

for

Pulborough Community Partnership

0 1 9 0 3 7 4 0 7 1 1

Index

1. Background

1.1. Purpose of phase 2

2. Process

2.1. Consultations

2.2. Meetings

2.3. Facilities reviewed looked and plans prepared

2.4. Visits to other Hub library locations and what we found

3. Findings and conclusions

3.1 Summary of findings and conclusions

3.2 Key issues that emerged and over view of proposal

3.3 Key learning points to be carried forward to Phase 3

4. Recommendations

5. Appendices

5.1 Appendix 1 – The key considerations that determined the space plans developed in the

Phase 1 report

5.2 Appendix 2 – Summary of findings of the main service providers interviewed

5.3 Appendix 3 – Survey of Potential Hub Customers

5.4 Appendix 4 – Main facilities required by the Police and the South Downs National Park

5.5 Appendix 5 – Floor plans

Site Plan

Existing Library layout

Initial Library & Hub launch scheme concept

Final Library & Hub scheme concept

1. Background

1.1. Purpose of Phase 2

1.1.1. The main objective for this phase is to establish the extent and nature of the

requirement for a Hub facility within the Pulborough Library space and to recommend

in outline how this requirement may be satisfied and any related priorities while

preserving the full Library service that is now provided

1.1.2. A secondary objective in fulfilling the main objective is to engage with the proposed

user clients and participatory organisations within and outside Pulborough to establish

relationships which can be built up in the subsequent phase when developing

implementation proposals.

1.1.3. Phase 2 of the study builds on the Phase 1 report . The key considerations that

determined the space plans and options developed in the Phase 1 report are shown in

Appendix 1

2. Process

2.1 Consultations

2.1.1. During the months of March April, May and June 2013 various individuals were

interviewed representing potential Hub Customers and potential HUB Service

providers using a simple questionnaire and floor plans developed from the ideas

developed in Phase 1.

2.1.2. The interviews with current and potential service providers were conducted over the

phone and in face to face meetings (sometimes involving visits to the library itself).

Each interview attempted to establish the appropriateness of the Library Hub for the

interviewee’s use, the facilities they would require and any priorities they had. (see

Appendix 2 for a summary of those interviewed and the related findings)

2.1.3. Potential service users were consulted in a survey carried out during the Expo event

held in the village hall in June. This event involved all community groups and had

around 200 visitors to the twenty eight stalls covering everything from the Scouts to

the churches. As part of the Pulborough Community Partnership stand the library Hub

floor plans and the facilities in the updated minimal option were displayed and those

attending invited to ask questions and say which facilities they considered

important.(see Appendix 3 for details of the process and related findings)

2.1.4. Additionally a cross section of the local business community were consulted

(including a local estate agent, fitness instructor, joinery company, domestic cleaning

business, youth service provider) to establish their need for a client interface space

and personal workspace.

2.1.5. The opportunity of fully exploiting the library site as a community resource led to

individual consultations with Police and the South Downs National Park

representatives to establish their specific needs and ideas for space and facilities. The

discussions with the Police focussed on their need for a base when they withdrew from

the existing London Road Building and the discussions with the South Downs National

Park representative focussed on the development of a visitor centre capability in

support of Pulborough as the northern “Gateway to the South Downs national Park”.

The key attributes of their requirements and potential facilities are shown in appendix

4.

2.2. Project meetings

2.2.1. During the same period project review meetings occurred between Mark Lewis, Rob

Aylott and Bernadine Philpott, the principal project staff to agree how to manage the

consultation process. In these meetings a general idea of how the review was

progressing was also discussed.

2.3. Facilities reviewed, looked at and related floor plans prepared

2.3.1 In talking to potential service providers and users the following facilities were

reviewed:

a. The newly installed automatic self serve library stations

b. The newly installed library reception computer system

c. Snack & Beverage vending machines

d. Audio visual presentation systems and display units.

e. Theatre and film presentations system in a presentation area

f. General security system for access control

g. Full serviced cafe’

h. Lavatory suitable for use by people with disabilities

i. PO Box or drop box to take deliveries for registered users of Amazon or other internet

product providers

j. Wi Fi access throughout the building

k. Account cards/membership card to manage access reporting and use for cafe’ purchases

l. In building sound system for music and announcements

m. Open desks for communal work area in both library and Hub areas

n. Confidential meeting space

o. Soft seating for reading, lounge, and informal meetings in cafe’, library and hub areas.

p. Reception stations for Library, Hub and Tourist information staff and volunteers.

2.3.2 Plans were developed based on those first presented as part of the feasibility report

Phase 1.:

a. The Minimal scheme

b. The Moderate Scheme

c. The Grand Scheme

During Phase 2 in response to the consultations, the Minimal scheme was revised - this

plan has been devised to demonstrate the possibility of implementing a basic Hub facility

within the current Library (see Appendix 5) with only minor works to create:

1. A WC for the visitors to the building as an additional WC to the current staff WC

2. Confidential meeting room for user groups and Library staff

3. Beverage and snack vending machine location

4. Lounge area and minimal cafe’ seating adjacent to the vending machines

Also during Phase 2 in response to the consultations, the Grand scheme was also revised to

integrate the proposals into a wider community area. This plan (see Appendix 5) has been

devised to show the possibility of implementing a full and comprehensive development of

the Library Hub integrated with existing early plans for adjacent grounds to create;

1. Cafe’ extension to the South West

2. Hub reception, meeting rooms and communal office extension to the South East

3. New Library entrance, covered walk way and storage to the North

4. Landscaped surrounding grounds incorporating new car park access route and open

cafe’ seating and park seating inclusive of the area known as the memorial park.

5. A police base for the area

6. A restroom and canteen facility for 24 hour police use and other staff employed within

the building

7. Information displays to give the building visitor centre capability

2.4 Visits to other Hub Library locations and what we found

2.4.1 Other locations such as the community Hubs in Southwater, Broadfeild and the

libraries in Crawley and Storrington were visited to establish what services and

facilities they provided and any related issues.

2.4.2 In summary the Crawly Library informed us of the quality of the environment to

aspire to, the Storrington library informed us as to the feasibility of incorporating

other services within a similar size library. The Southwater and Broadfield sites

informed us of the potential of a Police Surgery within a library and the idea of

having a designated surgery room for other service providers to use.

3. Findings and conclusions

3.1 Summary of findings and conclusions

3.1.1. Consultation findings and conclusions with Service Providers (see Appendix 2 for

detail)

During our consultations it became apparent that whilst many of the interviewees,

such as the local community service providers, were interested in the proposals, many

of these had inevitably already established personnel and facility resources – very

often home based.

However those who were looking to expand or initiate new services were particularly

interested in the proposals as the Hub development presented to them a desirable

opportunity to establish themselves quickly at low cost. Examples of these are the

youth provision team of Horsham Matters, the Police, Tourist Information and a

number of small businesses working from home.

The project team concluded that the focus for the initial development of the library

Hub should be those organisations that are not now able to host services in the

community and others may transfer as the need arises.

3.1.2. Consultation findings and conclusions with potential Service Users (see appendix 3 for

detail)

The survey carried out during the Expo event held in the village hall in June was

completed by over a quarter of those attending the event, which had twenty eight

stands, showed a very substantial demand for all the basic facilities of the Minimal

scheme (see appendix 3 for analysis)

The project team concluded that this level of support clearly demonstrated value of a

Hub in the Library and it showed the priorities of demand for each of the Minimal

scheme facilities.

3.1.3. Consultation findings and conclusions with local Businesses

The interviews with potential local business users showed a clear need for periodic use

of workspace and office facilities as well as an environment for confidential and

informal meetings with current or potential clients.

The project team concluded that this would best be hosted in a purpose built business

area but could be accommodated with scheduling of the confidential meeting room in

the minimal scheme if locker storage facilities were provided for physical files etc.

3.1.4. Visit to other Library Hubs, the findings and conclusions

The Crawly Library demonstrated the need for a high quality environment to which to

aspire, the Storrington library demonstrated the feasibility of incorporating other

services within a similar size library but showed that to provide a well used drop in

service location is critical. The Southwater and Broadfeild site showed the potential of

a Police Surgery within a library and the value of having a designated surgery room for

other service providers to use.

The project team concluded that in progressing the Hub in Pulborough the learnings

from other locations should be taken into account by their involvement and review of

any detail proposals.

3.1.5. In summary, those undertaking the consultation felt there was sufficient positive

response to the proposals for a library Hub from both service providers and potential

users to progress with Stage 3 of the study. Of these, the most enthusiastic were those

groups who are looking for facilities within the community that are not currently

available such as an accessible WC, cafe’, information centre, tourist centre and a one

stop shop for community and business communications. These together with

accessible meeting and presentation areas.

3.1.6. There are examples of community library hubs about the country and all seem to be

offering as comprehensive service similar to the one evolving for the Pulborough

Library & Hub. Those visited and reviewed present as either Community Libraries or

Libraries with modest facilities indicative of and represented as a community Hub. The

actual live facility on the sites reviewed comprise cottage type libraries with local

information leaflets and business links on websites or a library with a Police desk or

both together with local service and tourist information leaflet display. The report

“Community Libraries, 10 case studies” published by the Arts Council England

describes the nature of each and explains how they are managed as independent

establishments having had themselves “asset transferred” into trusts and are now

staffed by volunteers.

The project team therefore concluded from others experience that the revised

Minimal scheme should be the short term focus for Phase 3 of the study and that

further planning and development of the Grand Scheme should be built on the

learning from the Minimum scheme and not compromised by anything done in the

Minimum scheme

3.2 Key issues that emerged and over view of the proposal

3.2.1 Key issues that emerged

a. There is a strong latent demand for services and space offered by the Library

Hub proposal for new services and as an interface with existing local service

providers

b. A concern identified in our research was the fact that the location of the Library

in Pulborough has no street presence, no foot fall, no “shop window” and that

the facility is considered a “destination shop” that is - only planned visits are

made. In the main, all visitors depend on being able to park in the adjacent car

parks, the team considered that enhancing the surrounding area, that is the

Memorial gardens and Village Hall to give a greater sense of “Community

Centre” could change this.

This report and proposals by the Parish Council includes a degree of landscaping

to facilitate better access routes from the car park down to the new Cafe’

entrance and to the existing entrance to the library. At each juncture the

pavement and road may be levelled. The current geography already lends itself

to wheel chair access.

c. Further the landscaping will need to accommodate bicycle parking in both the

car park and areas and immediately adjacent to the new entrances of the Library

& Hub to encourage cycle access

d. Residents close to the Library and others expressed concern about parking for

HUB visitors and staff and ownership of the land subject to any building and

landscaping.

3.3 Key learning points to be carried forward to phase 3

a. After months of the proposals being gradually introduced to the local community and to

the various potential user groups and service providers it became apparent the there are

6 main categories of use which will influence the design and function for the new facility

in addition to the less significant user groups identified in this report. These are:

1. The Library facility must retain its current levels of service to its clients as a

minimum.

2. The Police requiring a place to maintain a community interaction point with the

planned removal of the Pulborough Police Station and a base out of which to

operate.

3. The South Downs National Parks Authority have branded Pulborough as “Gateway

to the South Downs National Park” and need a tourist information centre in the

village. The Park has some funds to support this ambition; an example is the

provision of a touch screen based information service of the type recently installed

at the Chichester basin

4. The youth provision organisation Horsham Matters requires a place to base their

youth worker who serves the areas of Billingshurst, Storrington and Pulborough and

sees the proposed Minimal Hub as a good environment for this but also requires a

work base ideally in the Hub

5. Community Care recognises the need for a “drop in” social space for older residents

which could become the environment for wider service delivery – the Hub could be

this space

6. The self-employed small businesses community working from home requiring hot

desks, networking opportunities, Postal address i.e. PO Box, meeting room and

reception facilities which go some way beyond the Minimal scheme

4. Recommendations

4.1 Accept this report as an adequate basis upon which to progress with Phase 3 of the

study in line with the original work programme recognising the findings and

conclusions above.

4.2 Within Phase 3 of the study make recommendations that address the issues identified

above and how the implementation should incorporate the learnings from this phase

of the study

4.3 Focus the project steering activity of Phase 3 on the principle initial users of the Library

and Hub and those who influence the environment in which it resides, including the

Parish Council, HDC and Village Hall in addition to WSCC to ensure that plans reflect a

seamless development of this community centre area

4.4 Phase 3 should define the facilities and resources and in what stages and timescales

should they be incorporated in to the Library Hub Minimal and the broad steps for the

Grand scheme

7.2 While costings and fundings for any of the schemes are outside of the scope of the

original work programme any indicative information on costs and sources of funds

should be included without commitment.

5. Appendices

Appendix 1 – The key considerations that determined the space plans developed in the

Phase 1 report

a. That the building accommodating the Library and certain aspects of the surrounding

land be remodelled, refurbished and developed to;

1. Enhance the Library facility.

2. Include within the existing building a flexible area for the children friendly

area and for presentations and information display incorporating the

appropriate screen and image projection technologies.

3. Include within the existing building an additional lavatory over and above the

current or new staff WC, which will accommodate the public with a facility

appropriate for use by people with disabilities, mothers wishing to attend to

their children’s and baby’s toilet needs in addition to those usual requirements

of any other visitor.

4. Include within the existing building at least one designated area screened off

from the main area by virtue of sound insulated, part translucent glazed

panelling to provide a confidential meeting room or surgery room able to be

used by all the user groups and Library staff through a booking system.

5. Include within the existing building a Wi fi system to allow all Library Hub

users to connect their personal PC’s

6. Include within the existing building beverage and snack vending facilities

together with an informal seating and table area appropriately integrated

within the reception area of the Library

7. Integrate within the existing building Library reception and Hub reception to

be staffed in collaboration with the Library Staff and the Hub staff together

with any volunteers assigned to either category of service.

8. To provide by way of new extensions to the existing building and

complimentary associated landscaping to the adjacent areas inclusive of the

“memorial garden” and the land immediately to the south east of the main car

park, a comprehensive development.

9. Added to the South West of existing building a cafe’ with kitchen and servry for

30-40 covers orientated to afford views of the Brooks to the South West

10. Added to the South East of the existing building a business and community

area providing a lounge and reception area, open shared desk area and

individual meeting rooms for community surgeries, business meetings, tourist

information centre and the like.

11. Added to the North East of the building a covered walkway and storage out

building to accommodate utility and cleaning equipment and furniture not in

permanent use within the building.

12. Added to the North West a new entrance lobby and refurbished frontage.

b. That the technical and personal services within the existing and new buildings

extensions be developed to;

1. Compliment the Library facility

2. Inform the Library and Hub users of all relevant services within the Library Hub

and those of the local community groups and businesses

3. Inform visitors and tourists of all the cultural, environmental and recreational

opportunities they may engage within Pulborough and the adjacent lands

specifically the South Downs National Park.

To achieve this by way of a comprehensive interactive screen based system within the

Library Hub and the various public and retail buildings in the area such as the station, the

health centre and supermarkets.

Appendix 2 – summary of findings of the main service providers interviewed

Methodology

Service Provider Organisations were identified that provided services in the following categories:

1. Pulborough service provider – these had an existing service presence in Pulborough and

provided services to the Pulborough community

2. Nearby service provider – these had a presence in other nearby villages but not Pulborough

but may be used by the Pulborough community

3. No local physical presence – these had no regular presence in the area around Pulborough

but existed or were based elsewhere in West Sussex

4. Needed unavailable service –these were needed in Pulborough by the community or others

but were not accessible or provided in West Sussex

5. Home based businesses – these had a low profile presence in Pulborough but provided

services much more widely

Where possible a representative sample of organisations in each category was identified with the

help of the steering group and others and interviewed on the phone or face-to-face to establish

what facilities that the Hub might provide that they would use and the value to them of that facility.

Findings

1. Pulborough service provider

a. Community Care – Community Care provides a number of regular services which are

generally home based in terms of delivery and their administration but recognises

the need for a “drop in” social space and communication facility for older residents

which could become the environment for wider service delivery such as the

establishment of a Memory Loss Group, Book Clubs and a Walkers Gathering Point –

the Hub should be this space

HUB facilities required –

i. Toilet

ii. Soft and table seating

iii. Vending Machine

iv. Other – screen display of “what is going on”, newspapers and magazines

b. Citizens Advice Bureau – CAB is Horsham based and provides a four weekly service in

the Pulborough Medical Centre by appointment only. When interviewed they did

not see a need for a “drop in” service and were happy with the facilities they have

now. However discussions with community members suggest this is not adequate

and fails to meet the local needs which were for a time met by a drop in facility

called PIP (Pop Into Pulborough) HUB facilities then required –

i. Toilet

ii. Vending Machine

iii. Confidential meeting room

c. Police – the police have a station/office in Pulborough which has no “drop in”

facility. When initially interviewed the view was that if a member of the community

needed to see the police they would make an appointment and then come to the

station. Subsequently it was announced that the Police Station was to close and the

Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner (Katy Bourne) was wishing to use facilities

within the community to make access to the police better, Subsequent meetings

with her deputy (Steve Waight - SW) established that the Library could be a suitable

location for the Police interface subject to facility changes to meet their

requirements specification – SW was to provide a copy of the requirements and

discuss how this may be satisfied. HUB facilities required –

i. Toilet

ii. Vending Machine

iii. Confidential meeting room

A subsequent meeting with Mark Eyre of Sussex police and Library management

additionally identified the need for a Neighbourhood Policing Base requiring 40-50

square metres for around seven police and their equipment plus access to a shared

rest room and kitchen area – this is expanded in Appendix 4

d. Village churches – none of the village churches provided a parish office for

community access either by phone or on a “drop in” basis; all first line community

contact with the churches is via the priest in charge of whom only two of the four

live in the Pulborough parish area. Administration for each of the churches is home

based. All contact for events at the Parish church is through a local shop or by

telephone. Most of the churches contacted felt these arrangements were

satisfactory except the Baptist Minister felt that the Hub would prove an ideal

meeting space for meeting congregation members outside the worship environment

– to service this need would require the following HUB facilities –

i. Toilet



2. Nearby service provider

a. Liase – Liase provides a two hour “drop in” service every week in Storrington and

Petworth and home visits by appointment. HUB facilities required –

i. Toilets



iv. Confidential meeting room

3. No local physical presence

a. Chichester Diocesan Family Support – The Family Support worker who includes the

Pulborough area visits people in their home by appointment at the moment; while

this is acceptable for many there are others who would like to meet in a neutral

confidential or more informal environment. Additionally the support worker would

like to be able to provide a monthly “drop in” facility. HUB facilities required –

i. Toilets




b. MP’s Surgery - . HUB facilities required –

i. Toilets




c. Youth Worker from Horsham Matters – The newly appointed youth worker who

covers Pulborough, Billingshurst and Storrington would like to be Pulborough based

and have base and an environment in which to meet young people for discussions

and counselling. He felt that the Library HUB would be ideal for this. Consultation

with the village school also emphasised the need to expand the Library Hub to be a

space for all young people and include a large plasma screen of local current and

historic pictures of Pulborough (some taken by the young people of Pulborough)

HUB facilities required –

i. Toilets




v. Other - Office facilities (Wi Fi, Copier, desk,etc), Plasma screen display of

local pictures

d. Saxon Weald – The Resident Involvement Advisor of Saxon Weald Housing

Association is keen to have facilities to encourage community participation of their

residents and to meet them in neutral space if required. HUB facilities required:

i. Toilets




4. Needed unavailable service

a. Courier delivery box – a secure pick up box service as supplied by Amazon, or similar,

was seen by many as a valuable resource and would ideally be housed in the HUB.

This requires:

i. Other – Secure drop box/locker with sufficient space and administration

b. The South Downs National Park Visitor information – the manager for the

Pulborough area (Bruce Middleton ) was interviewed with a view to establishing

Visitor information requirements and options for the HUB. The discussion looked at

both the services initially and the services in a future possible visitor centre.

The National Park has funds to develop the use of the National Park that may

stretch six miles outside the park boundary and see Pulborough as a natural gateway

to the park given the road, bus and rail infrastructure and facilities.

In addition to the proposed toilet, refreshment and information facilities in the

initial scheme they would be keen to see a large screen (projected or Plasma) display

of local visitor information and interest subjects backed by a dedicated touch screen

visitor information service focussed on the accessable park area from Pulborough

and hyperlinked to the park website.

Horsham District Council Tourism also emphasised the need for a screen for local

visitor information and an easy to use (touch screen?) software facility to hyperlink

to related web sites. Thus the short term planned facilities would be:

i. Toilets



iv. Other – Video and touch screen visitor information and park promotion

facilities

If the long term visitor centre facility was developed the park would be keen to work

with its development to achieve the maximum visitor impact and experience

c. Tourist information more generally – extensive contact with HDC,WSCC and Tourism

South East was unable to identify any significant tourism support infrastructure that

required hosting and therefore would see the HUB as a potential resource.

The widespread view was expressed to the study that the visitor market had great

potential and the HUB could become a valuable Visitor Centre in this regard – in

which case the HUB facilities required –

i. Toilets



iv. Full cafe

v. Other – Visitor Information Pod and local museum (virtual or physical of the

style discussed with the National Park)

5. Home based businesses

We discussed the facilities within the Hub options with a number of local business. A

good example is the Internet provider “In my Town” which would need a customer

and prospect interface on a regular basis, which would use a meeting room, the cafe

area and require a “hot desk” work space with access to copy and Wi Fi facilities. In

summary the Hub facilities required -

i. Toilets



iv. Full cafe

v. Other – Hot desk facility, copy and Wi Fi service

6. Summary analysis of Facilities required:

The HUB facility needs of each category were identified above and the need priority scored below

which are summarised in the bar chart at the end:

1. Pulborough service provider

a. Toilets - essential

b. Soft and table seating - essential

c. Vending Machine - essential

d. Confidential meeting room – not required

e. Full cafe – nice to have

f. Business centre – not required

g. Other – Screen display of activities etc in the area

h. General comments – Existing service providers generally will have sorted ways of

working without the HUB; most of them therefore did not see the hub being used by

them for the delivery of existing services but the platform for the introduction of

additional services (such as Book Groups and a Memory Loss Group. However the

community consultation demonstrated an expectation that existing service

providers would use the HUB as a better means of service delivery

2. Nearby service provider


b. Soft and table seating -desirable

c. Vending Machine - desirable

d. Confidential meeting room - essential

e. Full cafe – not requuired


g. Other – not required

h. General comments - this section to be completed after B+ M done their input

3. No local physical presence





e. Full cafe – useful

f. Business centre – useful - Hot desking of full office facilities only

g. Other – Hot desking of full office facilities (but could be part of the business centre)

h. General comments – These service providers generally saw the HUB as a great

opportunity to provide services that they do not now provide or improve the

services that they currently deliver

4. Needed unavailable service





e. Full cafe – essential


g. Other – courier delivery box, display and interactive screen based visitor information

facilities

h. General comments – These service providers generally saw the HUB as a great

opportunity to provide services that they do not now provide or improve the

services that they currently deliver

5. Home based businesses





e. Full cafe – desirable

f. Business centre - desirable

g. Other – courier drop box, message taking and PO box

h. General comments – would generally assist in business development

Appendix 3 – Survey of Potential Hub Customers

Methodology

Pulborough Community Partnership staged an event in the Village Hall on Saturday the 1st June

2013, under the title of EXPO, to show the community what clubs, societies and other organisations

within the village were doing and invite their participation. The event attracted 40 participant

organisations of which 38 had stalls and about 200 visiting members of the community.

Pulborough Community Partnership had one stall which showed what the Partnership had achieved

and projects that were in progress – this included the HUB.

Those who visited the stand were invited to understand from architects drawings and discussions

with the stand attendants what the Hub was for and the ideas for its initial low key drop-in and

information set up and the long term ambition for a National Park Gateway Visitor Centre plus

Business Centre.

Those who were then interested enough, were invited to identify the facilities they would use in the

initial drop-in and information centre version of the HUB; this covered the following facilities:

A toilet

The soft seating and tables

The drinks vending machine

The confidential meeting room

The book collection and drop facility

Findings

About 50 people took part in the HUB facilities survey and many others expressed interest in the

concept of the HUB.

For the people who took part in the survey the following bar chart shows the number and

percentage who said they would use each of the facilities displayed:

Conclusions

1. There was a very large proportion of the community attending the EXPO event who were

interested in the activities of the Community Partnership

2. There was a very large proportion of the community attending the EXPO event who were

additionally supportive of a HUB in the Pulborough Library and the vast majority of these

participated in the survey of Hub facilities

3. All the facilities in the initial HUB drop-in and information centre would be used by a

substantial proportion of those who participated in the survey and over 50% said they would

use each of the book collection and drop facility and the soft seating and tables and the

toilet facilities.

Appendix 4 – Police and South Downs National Park requirements and potential facilities

Police

Two meetings with the police (see details in appendix 2 section on Finding 1.d), one of which was in

conjunction with library management identified the requirement for two types of facility:

A confidential meeting room for local people to meet the local police on a scheduled or

“pop-in” basis in a welcoming environment

A 24 hour base for police within the area to do desk work and shift changes; this included:

o Between 40 and 50 square metres for equipment storage facilities desk space and

related office facilities

o Rest room and minor canteen facilities

o Toilets

South Downs National Park

The South Downs National Park – the manager for the Pulborough area (Bruce Middleton ) was

interviewed with a view to establishing Visitor information requirements and options for the HUB.

The discussion looked at both the services initially and the services in a future possible visitor centre.

The National Park has funds to develop the use of the National Park that may stretch six miles

outside the park boundary and see Pulborough as a natural gateway to the park given the road, bus

and rail infrastructure and facilities.

In addition to the proposed toilet, refreshment and information facilities in the initial scheme they

would be keen to see a large screen (projected or LED) display of local visitor information and

interest subjects backed by a dedicated touch screen visitor information service focussed on the

accessible park area from Pulborough and hyperlinked to the park website. Thus the short term

planned facilities would be:

i. Toilets



iv. Other – Video and touch screen information and park promotion facilities

If the long term visitor facility was developed the park would be keen to work with its development

to achieve the maximum visitor impact and experience

Appendix 5 – Floor plans

Site Plan Existing Library layout

Initial Library & Hub launch scheme concept


Existing Library layout

Initial Library & Hub launch scheme

concept

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