Plan to extend New Walk into heart of Leicester could get under way soon
The plan to extend New Walk to the historic heart of the city could get under way within a couple of months.
The first phase will be closing the top of King Street to traffic so people can walk to the end of New Walk at the junction of Welford Road and Newarke Street.
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At a later date, the Victorian promenade will be extended all the way to the 15th century Magazine Gateway.
After consultation on the King Street plan, the bollards could be put in place early next year, with a proper makeover for the King Street crossing being completed when the crumbling New Walk Centre is replaced in the near future.
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The plan is part of Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby's Connecting Leicester project and he expects few complaints about this first stage.
He said: "Closing the top of King Street is one of the quick ones of the Connecting Leicester project.
"There's a very straightforward alternative for traffic to get from King Street on to Welford Road by going along Marlborough Street.
"The first stage is putting bollards on the road to make it a pedestrianised area and how we treat the area ultimately depends on the design of the New Walk Centre's replacement.
"I want to extend the New Walk experience beyond there as well."
He said the next phase – along Newarke Street – would probably involve reducing the number of lanes and creating a wide walkway beside the road.
He said: "Newarke Street is a wide road and cars race down there before braking sharply for the turn into Welford Road.
"There's the possibility of using some of the road to create a wider pavement."
Members of the public in New Walk on Saturday were broadly in favour of the idea of extending the pathway.
Jan Dawson, 73, who lives in nearby Regent Road, said: "I rather approve of most of Sir Peter Soulsby's ideas. I used to work at the New Walk Museum and I like New Walk a lot. I think extending it would be a good idea."
Mark Weston, 39, of Westcotes, Leicester, said: "It's going to make it nicer for pedestrians, so that's good, but I think it's only going to scrape the surface. I'd like to see much more of the city centre pedestrianised."
Lucy Geary, 45, of Wigston, said: "It's an okay idea but I'm worried that if the Government has no money, are we going to end up paying higher council tax?"
Consultation on the King Street proposal continues until January 3 and a decision is expected a few days later. The work would start straight away.
Have your say on the plan at:
http://consultations. leicester.gov.uk/
Comments
by petaluma
Monday, December 17 2012, 6:18PM
“@stinky.The advertising(sic)campaign "One Leicester"has been dropped as it was loosing money.the same team,still paid, are looking for another idea for a new name.
Surely pete is unaware of this.
"pete's Leicester".Simple and cheap eh?I meant the idea!!!!!!”
by Stinkypete13
Friday, December 14 2012, 9:58PM
“Has st pete been anywhere near Newarke st at peak hour?? To narrow it from 3 to 2 lanes would be a nightmare.Where's the consultation, planning or any other aspect of objectivity in all this?? Another case of this megalomaniac acting on a whim, without putting it to any kind of vote or outside opinion.Why do socialists seem so hell bent on creating a legacy for themselves a la Blair?
Thought they had ' the people' at the centre of their policy making?
Seems like there' s only one person that matters in his world..."One leicester..Soulsby's!"”
by Strojo
Friday, December 14 2012, 6:02PM
“There is already a footpath on either side of the road. Why does it need to be wider? If this goes ahead it will end up as a cycle route (including New Walk) between DMU and Leicester University. There is already a pedestrianised route from (near) the end of New Walk to the city centre via Market Street, Hotel Street, and St. Martins Square - a small improvement on King Street (and maybe a rethink on the pedestrian crossings) would connect those better - fair enough, but is the Magazine Gateway going to get so many visitors that the cost of changing Newarke Street is justified? I doubt it.”
by joe-bloggs
Thursday, December 13 2012, 12:49PM
“more short term parking spaces gone.really good for City businesses.
well done pete!
not.”
by joe-bloggs
Tuesday, December 11 2012, 7:29PM
“a side comment....the resin surface that has splattered New Walk ,and keeps being patched up,is not deemed suitable for ego square,but hey ho it gets repaired .”
by democrat
Tuesday, December 11 2012, 5:10PM
“Graham
It would make more sense but Saint Peter has his vision and we are expected to pay for it”
by Graham_LE8
Tuesday, December 11 2012, 4:49PM
“Why there's the assumption that all traffic out of King Street would want to go to Welford Road stumps me (surely they'd use Marlborough St anyway), but perhaps some of it might want to access Pocklingtons Walk maybe?... BUT, if the council are really intent on blocking off the northern end of King Street, wouldn't extending New Walk via that part of King Street, through Market Street, then along Hotel Street to St Martins and the lanes make more sense?...”
by Lordpostie
Tuesday, December 11 2012, 4:42PM
“#firm not form”
by Lordpostie
Tuesday, December 11 2012, 4:41PM
“1 chip shop , and 1 form on Newarke st, I general residence of 21 flats the rest of Newarke st is for students, as for f007e I'm sure you can cope with the 2 pavements already available, also maybe York rd would be quicker to walk down, less traffic as well”
by f007e
Tuesday, December 11 2012, 2:01PM
“@Lordpostie - ""Who actually walks alone Newarke street other than de mont uni students ?"
To answer your question - I do, because it's between the train station and my house.”