Nottingham City Council’s pedestrianisation of Station Street will be completed on time and on budget on Sunday 31 July.
The works were carried out to help regenerate the area around the railway station, complementing the £60 million transformation; the new Nottingham Station tram stop, which is now fully integrated with the railway station; and the £1.4 million Townscape Heritage programme to restore historical shop fronts in the Carrington Street area, which will link with future improvements around the Broadmarsh area.
The £1.64 million environmental improvement scheme funded by Nottingham City Council, the European Regional Development Fund and the Government through City Deal and D2N2’s Regional Growth Fund, now features new paving and road surfaces, new traffic management measures and enhancements to the appearance of the area.
Works started in September 2015 and now Station Street from Carrington Street to Trent Street consists of an easily accessible paved area for pedestrians and cyclists. It is now also available for outdoor café seating and pop-up market stalls.
Other changes that have been brought to these areas are:
– Pedestrianising Station Street between Trent Street and Carrington Street
– Moving taxis to new taxi ranks on Trent Street and a new rank off Queens Road for passengers using the station lifts.
– Prohibiting vehicles except buses and cycles from using Carrington Street outside the station
– Prohibiting vehicles except cycles entering Station Street from London Road
– Prohibiting vehicles except cycles entering Station Street from Trent Street and visa-versa
– Providing vehicle access to the remaining section of Station Street through a one-way system from Canal Street via Trent Street onto Station Street and to London Road
– Increasing parking availability on Station Street (east of Trent Street).
Some additional works will take place between August 1 and the end of September when trees will be planted and new street lights and granite benches will be installed. Paving that could not be installed due to scaffolding around the station entrance will also be laid. Traffic management will be in force, with access turning right from Trent Street on to Station Street stopped except for works vehicles and local business parking. There will be no access to Station Street from its junction with Carrington Street.
This means from the 1st August access to Station Street will be from Canal Street and Trent Street, there will be no access from London Road into Station Street (except for cycles). On the Station side of Station Street vehicles will not be allowed to stop at any time until all the works have been completed, this will be signed on site.
Councillor Nick McDonald, Portfolio Holder for Business, Growth and Transport, said: “We are very pleased with the environmental improvements we have delivered. We now have a refreshed, welcoming area which looks attractive, improves connectivity around the station and provides new outdoor opportunities for businesses. The station serves more than seven million passengers each year, who will benefit from the improvements to the surrounding area.
“We thank local residents and businesses for their patience and apologise for any further inconvenience of works taking place to complete the transformation of the area. However we feel delivering these works now will be more effective and less disruptive in the long run.”