Mike has shaped Plymouth's development for four decades
ONE of the most memorable moments in Plymouth's development over the past four decades was the 1987 pedestrianisation of the city centre, says town planning expert Mike Palmer.
Mr Palmer, pictured far right, one of the backroom staff who guided Plymouth's development over the past four decades, is retiring this month.
"Things that stand out in my mind are the first day traffic was removed from the city centre," he said. "It was so quiet."
Mr Palmer said the sight of the city's skyline being filled with construction cranes also gave him pleasure because it meant that Plymouth was really changing."
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Council leaders paid tribute to Mr Palmer, Plymouth City Council spatial planning manager, who was the main author of the blueprint for city development, the 2006 core strategy.
Cllr Tudor Evans told Mr Palmer: "We couldn't have done it without you."
Speaking at this week's Cabinet meeting Cllr Brian Vincent, the Cabinet member for environment and a keen bird-watcher, said Mr Palmer was "very calm, the kind of person I would like to have on a bird-watching trip".
He said: "Mike has worked on some of the biggest strategic issues facing Plymouth over the last four decades including the 1987, 1996 and 2001 local plans.
"He played a key role on behalf of Plymouth in the preparation of the Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West.
"Perhaps one of Mike's greatest achievements was being the main author of the LDF Core Strategy.
"This was the first adopted core strategy for a major English city and embedded the David Mackay vision into the statutory planning framework.
"Mike has also played a key managerial role overseeing the programme of area action plans which have guided the delivery of numerous regeneration projects that we now see on the ground.
"I would like to sincerely thank Mike for his commitment and dedication and the enormous contribution he has made to planning in Plymouth. I'd also like to wish him all the best for his retirement."
Mr Palmer said: "I have been with the council for just over 39 years and while it has been an interesting ride at times, I wouldn't have missed it for the world.
"I take away some very fond memories of watching the city change.
"Planning is a long-term process, but having been here for nearly 40 years I have seen the plans come to fruition.
"One of the most personally rewarding schemes I have been involved in was the urban programme. It helped a lot of people, as well as creating some memorable landmarks. I'm sure people have seen the 'Prawn' sculpture on the Barbican.
"I have always worked as part of the planning team and we helped put Plymouth on the national planning map with our local development framework, beating off competition for the Royal Town Planning Institute Silver Jubilee Cup from the likes of the Olympics Stadium bid.
"The results of this work are now being delivered with developments like Millbay and Devonport."
Comments
by deputydog
Monday, September 24 2012, 12:42PM
“it is supposed to be no traffic allowed but cars and vans do drive amongst shoppers the road by tesco and the sun dial can be like dicing with death at times and as for the west end cars etc seem to have precidence over pedestrians ive seen many mums with buggys and the elderly have had many a near miss with the traffic also the cyclists who whizz by at such speed they seem to come from nowhere the other day a small child was nearly mown down by a bike his mum was very shaken something should be done but i dont know what”
by Mark2Plym
Monday, September 24 2012, 12:27AM
“As said early the plans were set out in "A plan for Plymouth" a report prepared for the city council in October 1943. I have a copy beside me now!”
by PL1Plym
Sunday, September 23 2012, 10:21AM
“Yeh that's right. Park outside the door and waddle in. In fact lets make all shops drive through! So there is no problem with everyone getting fatter then!”
by blogtodi
Sunday, September 23 2012, 9:53AM
“Abercrombie's plan was brilliant....for it's time. It's easy, in hindsight, to criticise but how could anyone in the post war era have known the needs of the modern day motorist and shopper?
The plan was right at the time.
Now it's MacKay's turn to update the city. If his ideas are as good as Abercrombie's were in his time, then we'll have a better city centre.”
by paulmh66
Saturday, September 22 2012, 11:53AM
“but it was all done wrong. putting car parks to the edges of the pedestrianized area, when they should be central, so people could park up and walk outward, instead of walking the full length and breadth of the center. not thought out at all”
by mjohn
Saturday, September 22 2012, 11:08AM
“You can't blame him for the destruction of the City Centre. It was already set-up by the Abercrombie Plan to demolish un-blitzed buidlings in the city Centre to form a zoned.
Abercrombie ignored the fact that if you place residents above shops, you have 24 hour monitoring of crime. Later, when the north side of Cornwall Street was developed, some residential units were mixed into the plan. For us to have one of the first pedestrianised areas in a City Centre showed that our Planners at that time had concern for the dangers of a Traffic & Pedestrian mix.
City Planning has much to be blamed for in our city, but not on this issue.
Abercormbie was the real criminal. His plan forced compulsory purchase orders on properties to clear the City Centre of Residents. It's effect tied up development for 50 years.”
by blogtodi
Saturday, September 22 2012, 9:43AM
“Quote - 'Things that stand out in my mind are the first day traffic was removed from the city centre, it was so quiet.' And has been quiet ever since. Look no traffic - look no business!
Gone the thriving, bustling city centre. Hello ghost town.”
by Reneinnit
Friday, September 21 2012, 9:05PM
“So he can retire safely in the knowledge that he start the destruction of the city centre. By removing the cars, he removed the publics ability to spend easily. Now we all shop out of town or online, just because it's easier and we are too lazy to walk anywhere.”
by Nevman
Friday, September 21 2012, 5:44PM
“Or not pictured, according to the usual Herald incompetence.”