Remember when a road split Bristol's Queen Square in two
A SERIES of events have been organised to celebrate the 20th anniversary on Thursday of the closure of a road which split Bristol's Queen Square in two.
The ugly stretch of dual carriageway which was first built in the 1930s was initially closed for a trial period after a storm of protests.
The closure, which was made permanent 18 months later, was the first major step in transforming the historic Georgian square into one of the finest in Europe.
The road ran diagonally across the square and looped either side of a statue of William III riding a horse which was moved as part of the multi-million pound regeneration project.
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Former Avon County Councillor Dave Johnson, who was joint spokesperson on planning and transport when the closure decision was made in 1992, said: "Closing the road through Queen Square was a real struggle.
"It took a lot of determination to get the council to change its transport policy – to consider the needs of people and their environment and not just car drivers.
"Queen Square was one of the first results of this change and the results are there for all to see.
"The square is now one of the main assets of the city. Before, it was just the left over space around a dual carriageway. It's a great shame the impetus for change was lost when the county council was abolished in 1996.
"I am pleased the Living Heart for Bristol is looking for new opportunities to improve the environment of our much battered and bruised – but still wonderful – city."
Living Heart for Bristol is a partnership of nine pressure groups and organisations in the city which is campaigning for the removal of through traffic in the city centre and more open space.
Living Heart spokesman Steve Melia said: "Twenty years ago, many people said the councils were mad to close a dual carriageway through the city centre.
"They said the economy around Queen Square would suffer. Today it is one of the most desirable business locations in the city.
"Who would argue for a dual carriageway through Queen Square today?
"There are several lessons here for councillors and the business community and the new mayor, whoever he or she may be.
"Queen Square shows how removing through traffic can create new public space and improve access for everyone. If we want to build a better city for all, that process, started 20 years ago, must continue."
The pressure group has organised:
â Old newspaper reports and links to other historical information which now available online at www.livingheart.org.uk
â A bike ride starting and finishing in Queen Square, run jointly by the CTC and Bristol Cycling Campaign on June 9.
â A display of photographs, old and new, which will be put in an empty shop during Big Green Week (June 9–17)
Comments
by Charlespk
Saturday, August 18 2012, 9:56PM
“Upsetting the highly critical Traffic flow in central Bristol; virtually cutting the city in half; was one of the worst decisions the council ever made. . It was ill-thought through and lead to the exiting of large numbers of top business right across the centre of the city, without any consideration to what draws the general populace to the city, or how they arrive. . The traffic lights at the end of the M32 just exemplify the planning incompetence and their determination to continually grind all 'traffic' in Bristol to a halt.”
by HarveyNix
Thursday, May 17 2012, 7:51PM
“No flats and offices? What can be done to bring more commerce into Central Bristol? That Queens Square is a waste of space. How about diverting the new monorail straight through the middle ! Wildebeest Indeed”
by mrdogwalker
Thursday, May 17 2012, 7:47PM
“@Roly12345
Or even a live feed to Charlespk's messages to the nation, which staff would surely find uplifting and motivating:)”
by roly12345
Thursday, May 17 2012, 7:05PM
“You are jesting Harvey, aren't you?
Why don't office developers explore the possibility of underground offices, replacing windows with Oled screens showing vast plains with herds of wildebeests majestically sweeping across the breathtaking vista or even Torquay beach, interspersed with a message from the sponsor, demanding the minions work harder.”
by HarveyNix
Thursday, May 17 2012, 6:48PM
“Roly... But surely some more flats and offices could be built on Queens Square? There is a real shortage of both in Central Bristol at the moment - With an underpass 3 lanes in each direction beneath..”
by roly12345
Thursday, May 17 2012, 6:15PM
“The relentless acre after acre after acre of concrete and tarmac will not stop until every square foot of Bristol is a calculable contributor to the economy.
Unless of course the people object to the misery of living and working in a soulless edifice to greed and power.
That's why people stand up for a patch of grass, just as many communities across Bristol did so recently.”
by Bizmarkish
Thursday, May 17 2012, 5:24PM
“I can see that a lot of the nearly 100 comments on this thread have nothing to do with the article (congrats on that Charlie Boy) but it still amazes me that people would somehow feel the need to defend OR criticize what is done with the layout of that square... yes the buildings are very nice with historic charm but they're largley obscurred by trees (even in the autumn/winter) and as a city centre park it could not be any more boring. With a road it was 2 triangles of grass, without it, a square. It's still just a flat, dull area that makes most other city centre green areas look like the Lake District.
Good for events sure, but the grass is always ******ed afterwards anyway.”
by MisterZola
Thursday, May 17 2012, 5:12PM
“Yes katachua I couldn't agree more, that would really drag Bristol into the 21st century.
At the same time, why not turn College Green into a nice city centre car park, handy for all the Park St shops. It would make them much more accessible and would be a huge boost to the economy. After all, it's only used by skaters, Occupy protesters and BCC employees having lunch on a sunny day...
And don't get me started on the harbour that takes up acres of valuable road, office, housing and retail space and is only used by yacht owning Tarquins and lentil munching houseboat dwellers.”
by smoosername
Thursday, May 17 2012, 4:51PM
“Secret is safe with me. Can't promise that someone else won't blab though!”
by roly12345
Thursday, May 17 2012, 4:45PM
“@ smoosername
oops. Don't tell Charlespk as he'll never let me forget it.”