Councillors Samantha Deakin and David Hennigan with Ashfield council officers at the sundial on Portland Square, SuttonCouncillors Samantha Deakin and David Hennigan with Ashfield council officers at the sundial on Portland Square, Sutton
Councillors Samantha Deakin and David Hennigan with Ashfield council officers at the sundial on Portland Square, Sutton

Could Sutton's sundial be scrapped in new plans for Portland Square?

Time could be up for Sutton’s sundial as plans for Portland Square have been unveiled and they do not include the time piece.

The plans are part of Ashfield District Council’s £62.2m Towns Fund and the proposal for Portland Square is to create an attractive and contemporary public realm, where retail meets recreation and leisure.

The proposal is to create an attractive and contemporary public space. The designs include two large raised planted areas with built-in seating designed around a large central space, which will be the focal point for social activities and events. The raised areas will be planted with semi mature trees, grass, and flowers, to create a new urban garden in the town centre.

The design will also provide increased pavement space outside the shops, to allow hospitality businesses to install outdoor furniture and make the most of the outdoor trading spaces.

The council is also redeveloping the brownfield site at Fox Street as part of the Future High Street Fund Programme.

The existing derelict site will be converted into a flexible outdoor space, capable of hosting markets, events, as well as providing additional parking for cars and bicycles when events are not taking place.

The improvements will create a direct pedestrian friendly route from ASDA car park to Portland Square and the southern end of the town centre.

Coun Matthew Relf, executive member for Regeneration on Ashfield District Council, said: “It’s clear that the sundial prompts strong feelings.

“When we asked in May whether the sundial should stay or go, the overwhelming majority was to call time on the sundial. We have looked at moving it to one of our parks or place it on a roundabout but the reality is the upper section is 27-year-old fibreglass and is now too fragile to move.

“We hope our new plans will transform Portland Square into a green lung in our town centre and becomes a focal point for people to meet spend time and, importantly, spend money with surrounding businesses.

"To ensure we get this right we have been engaging with the public and stakeholders at every step of the process so we can deliver something that fits with what the majority of people want.

“We really want to hear your views on our plans for Sutton town centre, so please email the team with your thoughts by August 7.

"Resident contribution will be crucial for the delivery of a successful design for Portland Square and the other Towns Fund projects.

“This project will bring vitality and vibrancy to the town centre, attract future investment and development, enable a night-time economy to develop and flourish, and increase the town’s footfall.

"The plans for Fox Street include a new space for the outdoor market, which takes advantage of the thoroughfare to Asda.

“The £62.2m Towns Fund will allow us to completely regenerate Sutton and Kirkby. The council consulted with residents before we put our bid in to make sure that the projects we deliver match what residents want to see.”

Residents are being invited to have their say on the plans and a campaign has also been launched on Facebook in a bid to save the sundial.

To submit any comments or ideas email [email protected].