Public talks on plans for Dolphin Square

BUSINESS owners and residents living around Dolphin Square have been told they will soon be able to have their say on plans to redevelop the area. Two weeks ago the Weston & Somerset Mercury reported how every building between Union Street, Carlton Street, Beach Road and Oxford Street, including Dolphin Square, will be demolished under plans revealed by North Somerset Council.The area would then be redeveloped to include a library, shops, leisure facilities, car parking and luxury apartments.Dozens of people turned up to the local authority's executive meeting on Tuesday to hear more about the plans.Executive member for strategic planning and transport, John Crockford-Hawley, assured people that a meeting will be held where all people involved can have their say.He said: "We couldn't go to public consultation until the executive said it was okay. "Consequently, the plans got into the public arena before people directly affected knew about it."We now need to consult with all the business owners. I want the executive to take the issue of the redevelopment of Dolphin Square into the public arena now."It is essential that the public and business owners in the area are with us."At this week's meeting councillors voted to accept a number of recommendations made by North Somerset Council's director of finance and resources, Phil Hall and director of development and environment, David Turner.These included plans to immediately start market testing to see if the local authority could enter into a development partnership with suitable companies, to prepare plans should it have to compulsorily purchase properties in the area and to prepare a design brief. It was also recommended that officers talk to bosses at CNC Properties, which has a 99-year lease on a number of buildings in the area, to see if they can work together to redevelop the site.