I was just looking into things and thought that there are some streets at the bottom end of Leeds that would work very well as pedestrianised streets.
I have marked them in Yellow on the below image.
These Streets would increase the usage of this aria and encourage small 'Quirky' shops, cafe's and bars. And yes it would help boost the economy of Leeds by helping to bring in more 'Pink£'.
I think It would also not effect transport in Leeds too much ether.

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/9582/paths.jpg


What are the streets you would pedestrianise?
and what do you think of my idea?

Thanks.

I rarely see cars on Call Lane anyway, but I guess it would be nice to walk in the road whilst carrying my guitars to and from the music shops. There's got to be a decent case for riddings streets of cars - you can't just pedestrianise streets willy nilly!

You've just blocked one of the main routes in/out of the city to the south (especially for buses), and part of the city centre loop. So I'd say there's a pretty big impact on transport.

You've just blocked one of the main routes in/out of the city to the south (especially for buses), and part of the city centre loop. So I'd say there's a pretty big impact on transport.

What I meant was it would not be hard to redirect. It would also make the waterfront more of an aspect to the city AND bring more business to Brewery Wharf and Clarence Dock by encouraging people to this end of the city.

Here is my rough pedestrianised streets of the city map....

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/5700/leeds.jpg

Red - What I would do.
Purple - Roughly eastgate project.
Blue - Streets pedestrianised now

:)

I have long said that The Calls could easily be pedestrianised to help it's bar/restaurant scene if the City Loop was diverted along Black Bull Street, the A653 and Neville Street. This should be even more achievable now that IRR7 is complete and therefore there is no reason for through traffic to need to use the A61/A653.

Red Purple Blue... Not a sly hint that Marco V is djing in Leeds??? Lemme know. ;)

Subliving.

Cookridge Street and Greek Street should be left alone.

Cookridge Street and Greek Street should be left alone.


What's wrong with pedestrianising Greek Street? Park Row isn't exactly a main route for non-bus traffic, and cars can go along Bedford Street.

I would have said that Greek Street is an ideal candidate for pedestrianisation given that it is lined for almost its whole length by bars and restaurants. Presumably the City Council thinks so since Greek Street is due to be closed to traffic in the next few years. They tried a dry run about four years ago when the street was closed off for a week or so (it may have been for longer but I forget the detail) which allowed the setting up of tables and chairs outside.

It's spelt 'arEa'!

It's spelt 'arEa'!

Sorry.
x

Sorry.
x

No worries - I'm terrible for being a grammar nazi!

Im actually seriously thinking of submitting this to the council next time I'm chatting to Cllr Anderson or Cllr Andrew.

But it needs allot of work doing to it before I submit it... anyone want to help me refine it and help put together a plan ect...

Thanks
x

Liverpool's Gay Village pedestrianisation scheme has just gone to public consultation.
Per usual Leeds will be left behind.
:ohno:

I don't think there is any way Lower Briggate could be pedestrianised without major traffic pattern changes- footpaths could be made significantly wider though.

Best option as I see it is to gradually shift the gay village from Lower Briggate to an area of the city where it can prosper better. Perhaps Holbeck/Granary Wharf.

Problem with that plan is QC and Bar Fibre. They're not going anywhere. :p

Subliving.

I don't think there is any way Lower Briggate could be pedestrianised without major traffic pattern changes- footpaths could be made significantly wider though.

Best option as I see it is to gradually shift the gay village from Lower Briggate to an area of the city where it can prosper better. Perhaps Holbeck/Granary Wharf.

You can't go social engineering to make distinct character areas of cities up sticks and move to a predetermined area, it just doesn't work.

The Calls, Call Lane and Lower Briggate would be impossible to pedestrianise without an entire overhaul of the city's traffic routes. Call Lane is the primary route south for buses. Anyone who doesn't see much traffic on there must only visit at 5am on Sunday.

The only way to close Call Lane is to make Lower Briggate 2-way. Not gonna happen, as it brings in so much car and bus traffic from the south.

The Calls can't be shut as it's now the primary route into and around the southern part of town from the east. Where would everyone go? Back to New York Street as they did before. The Loop was created to prevent that.

There is a case to improve the pedestrian parts around the Corn Exchange and (has been put forward on here before) incorporate the bus stop tringle in front, but, again, there would be some upheaval.

Greek Street could be done quite easily and sounds like it will be. The end of Merrion Street (Mojo, Reform etc) could also be done as trafiic is really supposed to loop around behind the chest clinic anyway. The owners on the street have discussed approaching the council, but I'm not sure if it's gone anywhere.

I wish there was some way The Headrow could be done in front of the art gallery to make it into a real public square. I see no reason why all eastbound traffic couldn't go up Great George Street, but westbound is a problem, unless you make all buses go around The Loop/Vicar Lane/Boar Lane when they hit town. That would also allow Park Row and Cookridge Street to be done. It would of course depend on the re-routing for Eastgate.

Also, don't forget that if they do decide to build a new bus station at Sovereign Street, that will also have an effect on the flow of traffic.

I would definitely advocate pedestrianising Greek Street and the bottom of Merrion Way as it shouldn't be too difficult, would improve the accessibility to those on foot and for the selfish reason that I hate having to dodge taxis when I've had a few shandies! :cheers:

I think that if and when Supertram was built, pedestrianisation could occur on a much larger scale, including most of the city centre, with much of the rest part pedestrianised to Bikes, buses & taxis only, with paving & a speed limit of 15mph to motorised traffic.

Nothing to do with pedestrianisation, of course, but this seemed to be the best location to report this piece in yesterday's YEP:



£1.3m Leeds street work starts


Published Date: 23 April 2009

By David Marsh and Jessica Elgot

WORK is under way on a £1.3m scheme to refurbish one of the busiest shopping streets in the heart of Leeds. The project to revitalise Lands Lane is part of a multi-million pound programme to transform key parts of the city centre, seen as vital to Leeds's economic future.

Briggate, King Edward Street, Albion Place and Commercial Street are among the streets already repaved and improved and the council recently announced plans to refurbish Bond Street and the pedestrianised part of Kirkgate.

The work in Lands Lane will include York stone paving, new trees and high quality seating. Council bosses say the aim is to give the area a "plaza" feel. Work started this week and is expected to be completed in the autumn.

Along with the paving refurbishment works, plans are also in place for the development and installation of a new city centre walking map and signage to help visitors find their way around the city centre on foot.

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/2459/centralsqforpresssmall.jpg (http://img19.imageshack.us/my.php?image=centralsqforpresssmall.jpg)
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/centralsqforpresssmall.jpg/1/w257.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img19/centralsqforpresssmall.jpg/1/)

Poor solitary tree. It looks infintely better than the mess at the moment, though I think it could be improved even more. I'd like to see the building Smiths is in knocked down (which I doubt would be missed) as well as the one housing Clintons, (which probably would be, but hopefully it would be worth it) and create a proper square able to fit a second, dare I say it possible even third tree! As my picture demonstrates, albeit terribly done on Paint :-)

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/7632/landslanerefurb.jpg (http://img19.imageshack.us/my.php?image=landslanerefurb.jpg)
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/landslanerefurb.jpg/1/w288.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img19/landslanerefurb.jpg/1/)

I'm very much in support of tree planting, but perhaps Central Square is better to be an open piazza.

I do like the box trees on King Edward Street- we should have more of them.

The Headrow is an ideal street to be tree lined.

Yeah probably, though the tree thing was only because of the one in the picture. I was mainly concerned with creating a larger, more attractive and ultimately more usable space in the middle of the retail core. As part of it I think it'd be great to see the vodafone on the corner of central square and commercial street revert back to a being a Betty's tea room. With that and Pret, as well as the cafes on Albion place it would far better achieve the 'plaza' feel the council are hoping for.

Definitely, but I think Betty's look for a more elegant setting. Still, the street cafes on Albion Place add so much to the atmosphere of the area- it would be great if that could be extended around the retail core.

Central Square is too small to be used for anything major- especially if there could be more street cafes there in the future. Briggate is the most usable space in the shopping core at the moment.

No, but removing WH Smiths and the adjoining building would almost double the space and would make it quite a bit wider than Briggate and definitely usable space. I'm sure the evangelists on their soapboxes would think so It would also stop it being simply a slightly wider continuation of lands lane.

Yes I expect it would, but I can't see that happening at all.

I've never actually seen an evangelist stood on a box or anything- they always seem to be walking up and down, sometimes with a sign and megaphone, usually on Briggate. I see lots of buskers in Central Square though- many are very good.

I hope they banish the charity people! with there fake smiles!

Oh god yes. Walking down Briggate is like a slalom, dodging them. My girlfriend and I stage elaborate arguments as they approach, and enjoy watching them akwardly back off.

I don't mind them. I mean they're trying to do a good thing and make the world better, and there are alot of people in the centre of Leeds who could afford to give a bit to charity considering many will be spending hundreds of pounds on a shopping trip.

I don't mind them. I mean they're trying to do a good thing and make the world better, and there are alot of people in the centre of Leeds who could afford to give a bit to charity considering many will be spending hundreds of pounds on a shopping trip.

Its a waste of time, as if anyone is stupid enough to give there bank/credit card details to some random person with a clipboard and badge!
They are a problem and put people off from walking around in town! They try and guilt trip people and worst of all they use bullying tactics!
they must go for people to feel more relaxed in the city centrer giving it that feeling the council is aiming for.

Oh god yes. Walking down Briggate is like a slalom, dodging them. My girlfriend and I stage elaborate arguments as they approach, and enjoy watching them akwardly back off.

Quite shameful that you feel you have to.... (of them and the city, not you).

It's obviously succesful to an extent or people wouldn't do it.

I don't mind them. I mean they're trying to do a good thing and make the world better, and there are alot of people in the centre of Leeds who could afford to give a bit to charity considering many will be spending hundreds of pounds on a shopping trip.

I think they get paid or are on comission for it, so my (cynical) view is that they are mainly there to make their cash, rather than actually wanting to help starving orphans in africa or whatever.

CMJ you are right, i was stopped in Leeds by one of them for one charity and then i was in Manchester a few days later and the same person stopped me there, this time for a different charity. I wouldnt mind so much if they were properly suppoting the charity but they just get briefed on a charity and paid to get money, i totally disagree with this, as for a start most money you give them will go to paying there wages!

I think they get paid or are on comission for it, so my (cynical) view is that they are mainly there to make their cash, rather than actually wanting to help starving orphans in africa or whatever.

Only some charities do this; I know Christian Aid isn't one of them though. I don't know about Save the Children who I seem to see most in Leeds.

A quick question:

Are the street lights on Albion Place temporary? You may notice they've installed new street lights along there; they look terrible. The street is so well done, with attention and care taken over the bins, benches... everything- except the lamposts. They're the sort of lights you get on busy roads, not pedestrianised streets. They should be of the same design as the bins.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3315/3427152140_ea5e70bca1.jpg?v=0

A quick question:

Are the street lights on Albion Place temporary? You may notice they've installed new street lights along there; they look terrible. The street is so well done, with attention and care taken over the bins, benches... everything- except the lamposts. They're the sort of lights you get on busy roads, not pedestrianised streets. They should be of the same design as the bins.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3315/3427152140_ea5e70bca1.jpg?v=0


Hmm, that's a rather disturbing question and I hope indeed that the lights are temporary. But it's been a few months since Albion Place was repaved, which doesn't make me confident that the lights will be replaced by anything more suitable. :ohno:

Just to follow on from the question about street lighting, the paragraph below is an extract from the paper on the repaving of Bond Street and Kirkgate which went to the city council's executive board last month. It's not that helpful, though it does imply that something of a decent quality is being sought. I suppose it depends on whether or not you think the aluminium columns along Albion Place constitute a sympathetic scheme.


3.1.7 The street lighting proposals will add value to proposed PFI upgrade. Approval of this DCR allows way-leave work to immediately commence to establish if building mounted lighting is feasible taking into account the required agreements from building owners/occupiers and the frontage design. Should building mounted lighting not be a feasible option then a sympathetic column scheme will be introduced.

After walking round the city centre a few nights ago i have gone quite anti building lights! I was in favour as during the day time it means the streets are less cluttered but Commercial Street has building mounted lighting and is appalingly lit! I thought from day one that the lamposts on Albion Street looked ridiculous, particularly as the ones on Briggate are quite nice, but at least they serve their purpose and light the street really well at night. Id rather have an ugly post and a well lit street than no post and a badly lit street.

Yes but you can see from that image that the ugly lamposts don't even light the street well anyway.

I don't mind whether the lights are mounted on the building (as they are on King Edward Street), or on lamposts (like on Albion Place).

Aluminium is not a material I dislike particularly, but it looks cheap; as if the council have run out of money, especially alongside the stainless steel street furniture.

It seems quite simple that the lamposts should be stainless steel, minimal columns, or well designed wall-mounted lights.

The lamps aren't even aluminium, they are just the bog standard galvanised streetlamp. You might have thought the council would have opted for the more expensive black painted ones, since this is the city centre and not a residential street.

You would have thought they'd consider this- it must mean that they are temporary, surely.

Don't streets usually have black painted lamposts too?

Nottingham City Council, despite their general uselessness which has become apparent of late, are one of the few authorities which still have almost all their street lamp columns painted. It makes them look far better IMO, and they have a PFI deal too!

Still, glad they aren't my local authority in many ways.

Very few Leeds columns are painted LN1, some villages have had it done (sometimes with the parish councils having to pay I think), the city centre is often done in dark blue too as you know, along with a few others here and there pre-PFI, but that's about it.

The street furniture in the city centre is ad hoc and needs sorting out. City Centre masterplans show that the Leeds Initiative, Council and others have recognised that though so hopefully will get it sorted. The Legible Leeds project will help alot.

Nearly all the lamposts in the Harrogate borough are painted black.

How do painted lamposts age over a few years? At least galvanised steel is completely maintenance free.

They can fade over a number of years (some have done a bit too quick), but Nottingham seem to keep many of them in good nick. Admittedly some could do with repainting though.

If kept in good nick they do look much better IMO.

How do painted lamposts age over a few years? At least galvanised steel is completely maintenance free.

The lamposts outside my house have never been repainted, but they were replaced once. Probably about 8 or 9 years ago now.

The repaving of Kirkgate has started. I noticed today that the information boards said 'Granite paving'. This is inconsistent with the York Stone paving- why have they chosen granite here? I know there are elements of granite among the York Stone at the moment but the boards did not mention any York Stone...

The repaving of Kirkgate has started. I noticed today that the information boards said 'Granite paving'. This is inconsistent with the York Stone paving- why have they chosen granite here? I know there are elements of granite among the York Stone at the moment but the boards did not mention any York Stone...

By the looks of the illustration there will be York stone lines alternated with granite strips. Maybe they've looked at the condition of the York stone on Briggate and had second thoughts, especially for Kirkgate, which has become a truly sorry street in all sorts of ways.

Perhaps so. It will be interesting how it turns out- I hope it integrates well with the rest of the city centre repaving.

Perhaps so. It will be interesting how it turns out- I hope it integrates well with the rest of the city centre repaving.

It looks like a variation on the current theme. I honestly don't know whether the city looks better without the Landmark Leeds paving. Sometimes it makes things look barren.

I know what you mean in terms of making the city look barren, but I have to say I think the new paving is much better. There's now much more room for street cafes on Albion Place, and the central part of Albion Street is now quite pleasant I think. The clutter free look makes the city look clean and modern I think.

Central Square could do with some more cafes to fill what could be described as a rather 'barren' space.

Finally, there's no doubt that Briggate looks a hundred times better than it did when it still had it's road surface.

Is this just the section from Commercial St to Vicar Lane? Are they still doing Bond St?

Yeah it's just that section.

They haven't repaved Commercial Street or Bond Street yet. Only the junction with Albion Place was repaved after the central part of Albion Place was repaved.

If The Headrow is pedestrianised along with Eastgate does this mean that that Vicar lane will be too... this would be considering that the Eastgate Project was completed too.

I don't believe there is a plan to pedestrianise The Headrow.

I don't believe there is a plan to pedestrianise The Headrow.

I'm sure its the long term plan for the city...

I don't think it is. I think city planners want to see The Headrow transformed into a boulevard that is like Leeds' 'Champs Elysees' or 'La Rambla'. Infact it states this aim in the Vision for Leeds, and in the Magnificent Mile plan.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/leeds/2010/may/24/leeds-targets-london-businesses
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/12/29/1262099767455/guardian_leeds_940x100.gif
City centre streets benefit from revamp
Repaving, tree planting, seats and art for Kirkgate and Bond Street

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2010/5/27/1274956288061/kirkgate-Leeds-001.jpg
Kirkgate has been revamped as part of an £11m council scheme

The £11 million transformation of Leeds city centre's pedestrian areas has continued with the completion of Kirkgate and Bond Street.

Kirkgate, which is the city's oldest street, and Bond Street have been revamped as part of the council's £11 million six-year programme.

Most of the city centre's pedestrianised area has now been repaved and planted with trees, with new public art and seating installed.

Street's historical importance to Leeds

Sculptures created by award-winning artist Linda Schwab, are about to be installed at Bond Street's junction with Park Row and on Kirkgate. Special written text will also be carved into the paving along Kirkgate highlighting the street's long history and importance to the city.

Conservative councillor Andrew Carter, leader of Leeds City Council and executive member with responsibility for city development, said:

"Since the improvements were made to Albion Place and Lands Lane, we have seen a drop in the number of empty units on those streets, and it is hoped that Kirkgate and Bond Street will follow suit.

"Both Bond Street and Kirkgate are important streets in the city centre, acting as key gateways from the city's business and market districts."

Kirkgate has a history dating back to the Domesday Book of 1086. Over the years it has been home to a prison, a museum and, up until the 19th century, was a fashionable residential district for Leeds' wealthy merchants.

Nearby Lower Kirkgate, which links the city centre to Leeds Parish Church, recently won a £1million lottery grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to repair some of the buildings and help regenerate some of the area surrounding Kirkgate Market.

The other streets and green spaces to be renovated include: Briggate, King Edward Street, Merrion Street Gardens, Park Square, Chancellor Court, Assembly Street, Albion Street, Albion Place and Lands Lane.

I walked along Kirkgate on Tuesday; why on earth have the changed the type of stone used from Briggate and elsewhere? It looks filthy already and it isn't even finished yet. Also, would it have been too much to ask for them to level the street before paving it, it's so bumpy.

Very disappointed with the way it has turned out.

I walked along Kirkgate on Tuesday; why on earth have the changed the type of stone used from Briggate and elsewhere? It looks filthy already and it isn't even finished yet. Also, would it have been too much to ask for them to level the street before paving it, it's so bumpy.

Very disappointed with the way it has turned out.


Sorry to be contrary but I think the paving is better for being different. It needed a tough surface due to the high level of low class footfall in this area. :)

I was very disappointed to see that someone had snapped the trunk of one of the trees on Lands Lane (beside the Angel's alleyway) in half. God bless the yobs of Leeds.

What a shame. Some people snapped all the cherry trees on a tree lined path across The Stray not so long ago too.

I have yet to see the completed Kirkgate paving myself, but I'll probably not be complaining. I expect it's much better now than it was.

It would be great if Leeds could actually pedestrianise the whole city-centre within the inner ring-road, the river Aire and Quarry Hill. You could then turn some street in to park scenes and such malarkey. It could make the centre a unique, cultural and pollution free living space.

There would obviously need to be access routes for taxi's from the station, deliveries in the a.m and p.m, ambulances and traffic to and from the courts. Bus stations and car parks could be built at strategic points around the city linked by the free bus service. Perhaps even introduce cyclos or trishaws to ferry people around within the city.....

How would this be done in reality though? It would be possible to expand the pedestrianised area considerably already, but I'm not sure about the whole city centre. And is it necessary for areas such as the financial district to be pedestrianised?

I'd like to see more pedstrianisation which allows the city to show off more of its buildings. There is some great architecture on Vicar Lane that rarely gets a chance to be seen as frequently as places like Briggate.


http://www.leodis.net/imagesLeodis/screen/01/2007925_164801.jpg

Yes I think that too. The most annoying thing about that too is that there are some quite obvious ways in which Vicar Lane could be pedestrianised that have been identified on this forum.

As mentioned several times before by several users, it wouldn't take much to build a new road where NGT is planned around the markets/Milgarth for Vicar Lane buses too. Alternatively St. Peter's Street could be used- and of course most of the traffic on St. Peter's Street could easily by redirected around the back of Quarry Hill to free up capacity for buses...

There are so many options; why do the current council not have the ambition of the council in the 90s that led the ambitious Briggate pedestrianisation plans...

There are so many options; why do the current council not have the ambition of the council in the 90s that led the ambitious Briggate pedestrianisation plans...

All down to money unfortunately, I doubt the council have the funds.

Priority should be the Headrow, which would connect to Eastgate.

OT: I was concerned at seeing 3 empty units on Birgate, yet there are ambitious plans like Eastgate and Trinity, can the city really support any-more developments.

Priority should be The Headrow, but that doesn't mean attention shouldn't be given to other parts of the City.

Yes, I believe the city can support more units. This is because the available units are small or awkward units that do not match up to modern city standards. More large units are needed in Leeds. The demand is there, but the units are not. I expect if the units were available, many more chains would choose Leeds for their flagship stores. As it is, the only flagship stores Leeds has are those in Broadgate, and the flagship boutiques in the VQ.

OT: I was concerned at seeing 3 empty units on Birgate, yet there are ambitious plans like Eastgate and Trinity, can the city really support any-more developments.

If you're on Briggate again any time soon can you let me know who the letting agents are for those units.

Subliving.

They were replacing some of the paving around Dortmund Square today, but I think this has something to do with the Broadgate-related improvements.


On another note, I spotted Guardian journalists Sarfraz Manzoor and Martin Wainwright at Leeds Uni today, and former Look North frontwoman Judith Stamper (remember her?!) who apparently teaches on the Journalism course. Ker-razy.

There seems to be a convention where it is just shopping areas that are pedestrianised. This creates an imaginary boundary of where people will visit. One issue this causes is the belief that there are no green spaces at present in Leeds whereas there are several but they are not within the imaginary boundary. There is a great deal of beautiful architecture in areas outside the shopping zone which would become more accessible to citizens and visitors.

It also leads to restrictions to where people will open new shops and provides an artificial compartmentalisation of city centres. Further to this there is large amounts of money invested in potential property sites within the city in all areas including the financial district. By removing vehicles from the areas I suggested you could create a unique city centre that would be attractive to investors when considering whether to take forward developments in Leeds versus other cities. It would give the city a unique selling point and could help reestablish it as a park city. Also through taking back the streets you could invest in street scenes in areas that are particularly rundown or have limited footfall to attract people to those areas.

Another benefit could be to create greater connectivity to areas just outside the centre. For instance one of the most beautiful areas of the city is Little Woodhouse (between the infirmary, Burley Road and Hyde Park) is currently cut off from the city by many types of barriers. This could help alleviate that to a small extent.

All the opinions above are simple conjecture and open to criticism!

I think I agree to an extent, but I don't think it is possible to pedestrianise the entire city centre. No vehicle access to the prime business quarter could be very bad for the city.

What could be more successful though is the identification of quarters to be pedestrianised. Currently we have the core shopping area mainly and most of the riverside is pedestrianised. Millennium Square too if you can count that. I think it's necessary to have service and access roads through the city centre like the City Loop, but in between these pedestrianisation is possible.

There seems to be a convention where it is just shopping areas that are pedestrianised. This creates an imaginary boundary of where people will visit. One issue this causes is the belief that there are no green spaces at present in Leeds whereas there are several but they are not within the imaginary boundary. There is a great deal of beautiful architecture in areas outside the shopping zone which would become more accessible to citizens and visitors.

It also leads to restrictions to where people will open new shops and provides an artificial compartmentalisation of city centres. Further to this there is large amounts of money invested in potential property sites within the city in all areas including the financial district. By removing vehicles from the areas I suggested you could create a unique city centre that would be attractive to investors when considering whether to take forward developments in Leeds versus other cities. It would give the city a unique selling point and could help reestablish it as a park city. Also through taking back the streets you could invest in street scenes in areas that are particularly rundown or have limited footfall to attract people to those areas.

Another benefit could be to create greater connectivity to areas just outside the centre. For instance one of the most beautiful areas of the city is Little Woodhouse (between the infirmary, Burley Road and Hyde Park) is currently cut off from the city by many types of barriers. This could help alleviate that to a small extent.

All the opinions above are simple conjecture and open to criticism!

It's a great idea but maybe the extent of the proposal is too ambitious. I definitely think the city centre feels limited in the sense that people don't want to 'inhabit' many places beyond Briggate, while Vicar Lane, Boar Lane and the Headrow are neglected spaces in terms of proper pedestrianisation footfall. Little Woodhouse is interesting but maybe too far removed from the city centre to be a visiting space. The riverside might be a more realistic place to connect the city centre with.


Some parts of the city centre could benefit from less clutter and more imagination. Anywhere outside the Yorkstone paved areas of Leeds tends to look neglected and scruffy.



http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/4431754380_43187159cc_b.jpg



http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3335/4619495803_02bbff9bd4_b.jpg

I think those two pictures show that Vicar Lane is actually architecturally far more impressive than Briggate, so why are the council not keen to bring its public realm up to the same standard?

Little Woodhouse is a nice area, but I agree it is perhaps a little removed. More attention could be given to Hannover Square and Woodhouse Square as green spaces though.

At the very least the pavements could be significantly widened on Vicar Lane and street clutter removed; this could also be done on the Headrow, Boar Lane, Lower and New Briggate. The addition of trees would also be welcome, its worked really well on Kirkgate and Albion Place and helps to give a sense of continuity.

I'd also like to see more done with Park Row/Cookridge Street as it forms a key route from City Square (including the station) up to the Headrow and right up to Millenium Square. Pedestrianisation of Greek street and improvements to the 'square' behind the HSBC building would make the world of difference, helping to spread the pedestrian city centre boundary mentioned by Shiny_Dave.

How much does this type of stuff cost though? What has the funding been for the recent improvements to the likes of Briggate?

I can't remember how much Briggate cost- more than you'd expect though.

Park Row and Cookridge Street are alright. Improvements could be made, but at least they're presentable. They're low down on the priority list I think. Although surely Cookridge Street could be made into green space between The Light and The Headrow if traffic was allowed to turn right onto the loop?

How much does this type of stuff cost though? What has the funding been for the recent improvements to the likes of Briggate?


I think pedestrianisaion of Greek Street has been suggested, or even tried temporarily. The YF improvements cost millions and the council isn't exactly bursting with funds for futher schemes at the moment. The Harewood/Eastgate quarters would have given the council the opporutuniy to extract funds from Hammerson for improvements along Vicar Lane and the Headrow. The development would also have made the fine buildings on Vicar Lane less peripheral than they are currently. Time will tell whether it happens or not.


This is another view of Leeds' buildings which isn't seen as often as it should be (and not just because its in the 1930s)


http://www.leodis.net/imagesLeodis/screen/17/2004128_85729617.jpg

I can't remember how much Briggate cost- more than you'd expect though.

Park Row and Cookridge Street are alright. Improvements could be made, but at least they're presentable. They're low down on the priority list I think. Although surely Cookridge Street could be made into green space between The Light and The Headrow if traffic was allowed to turn right onto the loop?

True, there are several others streets and public spaces in much greater need of attention but I think it should be a long term aim to have a coherent city layout based around a few key streets such as Briggate, Headrow, Park Row, Vicar Lane. We already have this to some extent but it can be improved.

However a lot will hinge on the fate of NGT, there are a lot of associated public realm works including re-aligning and repaving the Headrow; something I'm sure we'd all like to see.

If NGT is approved, nothing will happen to The Headrow yet. Only the Northern and Southern lines were given the green light. In other words, one massive long line from Stourton-Holt Park.

The remainder of the loop and Eastern Line will not be built until later.