'Overwhelming positive response' to Bromyard backwards D project

Despite widespread criticism online, a spokesperson for the group behind the £90,000 project to spruce the town up, says the response to the consultation has been good.

K4 Architects was appointed by Bromyard and Winslow Town Council to lead a design team to help deliver improvements to the market town.

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With money from the Great Places to Visit fund, the project aims to increase footfall and make the town centre more legible and attractive to both local residents and visitors.

The core design team includes K4, Foodscapes, graphic designer Lucy Grafham and artist Jane Tudge, all based in Bromyard.

The fund is being spent on public realm improvements, including new wayfinding signage and branding and marketing of the town.

But Bromyard will be spelt with a backwards D, harking back to the old Bromyrd Bushel where the styling is from.

The inspiration from the backwards D came from the Bromyard Bushel. Picture: Rob Davies

That was labelled a spelling mistake by Coun Gill Churchill, and a gimmick by Coun David James Smith.

James Edgar, who lives locally, said: "The backward D looks awful and is the wrong message being sent out.

"The connection between Bromyard and backward will be made by some people."

Other comments online range from the fact that the design has got people talking, one of the objectives, to someone thinking it was a joke when they first saw it.

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A spokesperson for the group said: "Apart from an overwhelmingly positive response to the concepts, they received some valuable and constructive guidance on how to enhance aspects of the scheme, which will be finalised in the coming days."

The 'wayfinding' package includes totem signs at key arrival points which should have clear maps showing points of interest, as well as QR codes that links to websites.

New signposts will direct people towards key locations within the town centre, as well as the walks that surround the town.

Another key aspect of the project will bring to life some of the forgotten routes, including the historic alleyways and the subway under the bypass.

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These will be enhanced with new artwork in the form of murals, inspired by the local context and developed by Bromyard artists and designers.

"The idea is to turn something mundane into something experiential that makes you smile and reflect when you walk through it," a spokesperson for the group said.

Social media examples of the new Bromyard branding. Picture: K4 Architects/Lucy Grafham/Nifty Marketing

The wider team includes economic development experts, project managers Rose Regeneration and marketing support from Nifty.

The team said it is working closely with the town council, Herefordshire Council and Balfour Beatty Living Places to realise the project, which will be completed in the summer.

This project closely follows the completion of initial works funded by the Welcome Back Fund, which included refurbishment of street furniture, painting of railings and the establishment of an edible planting scheme within the civic garden by the council offices.

K4 Architects said they had been encouraged by the response to the public exhibition held at the Conquest Theatre in Tenbury Road, followed by another four days at its town centre office.

Designs will be finalised in due course.