Ladywell Walk Pedestrianisation
The Background and Issue • The Council have been working on identifying a scheme to reduce through traffic on Ladywell Walk with the eventual aim of creating a new public square outside the theatre. • It has been identified that a significant volume of traffic using Ladywell Walk is through traffic trying to access Paradise Circus and beyond and does not have a destination in the immediate area and hence is “rat running” through the area. • Therefore to prevent through traffic and congestion on Smallbrook Queensway & ease traffic around Grand Central the first phase is to stop traffic going up Hurst St onto Smallbrook Queensway and Hill Street • Therefore the first phase is to implement a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order which will enable us to better gage the success of the longer term proposal as well as ease congestion on Hill Street during the opening of John Lewis and Grand Central.
How will they do this? • In order to achieve these aims, they plan to close Hurst St at Thorp St and prevent traffic from getting to Smallbrook Queensway from Hurst St. • Due to the time constraints of this project, (September 2015 start) the council intend to impose a temporary traffic management system (see plans on next slide). This will force traffic on Ladywell down Bristol St (A38) Southbound.
Temporary Traffic Restrictions Proposed
What will this mean? • If your business is on Ladywell Walk or Wrottesley St deliveries will be unaffected. Delivery bays will be retained and in some cases improved. • You should let your staff and customers know that traffic routes have changed, these changes although temporary could last for up to 18 months.
This is bad, right? • The temporary arrangements will take some time to get used to and we can expect some issues in the early days as drivers get to know the new arrangements, however the council assure us that most of the traffic will be diverted before it gets to Ladywell Walk and the only traffic we will get is Southbound A38 traffic and those using the Southside/Chinatown area.
Will this affect parking? • The council may also need to suspend the parking bays on Thorp St to allow for deliveries but further investigation is required. Parking on Ladywell Walk and the carparks on route will be unaffected and access will be maintained at all times.
Will this affect my business? • Not if Southside has anything to do with it. We will work very hard to ensure your needs and views are listened to by the council and that these are reflected in the plans for the temporary closure. • Footfall should increase as the area becomes more attractive with less congestion caused by cars.
What happens next? • Southside will lobby for better traffic arrangements in Southside. These include – A new Public Square outside Hippodrome with landscaping and seated areas for visitors to enjoy. – A Chinese Arch/Chinese Art on Ladywell Walk – The unification of Chinatown with traffic calming on Ladywell Walk. – Improved Air Quality for Chinatown
Hippodrome Square The Hippodrome, the Arcadian and Southside BID are seeking funds from the LEP to fund a large scale public realm project to make Hippodrome Square a new public square for Birmingham and to unite Chinatown which currently suffers by having a busy and congested road (Ladywell Walk) running through it. The Hippodrome have been lobbying for some time for the council to look at extending the square and providing Chinatown with a public space to enjoy Chinese festivals without the danger of large amounts of traffic traversing the district. The Hippodrome, the Arcadian and Southside BID are working with the City Council to seek funds from the LEP to fund the large scale public real project.
Long Term Traffic Management Plans Proposed
I want to know more • If you have any worries or questions on how this will affect your business, please let us know. • Please note the temporary traffic management is not a BID project, this is being imposed on us by the council. However as your BID we will ensure your views are listened to and your business does not suffer as a result.
Contact Us • Call us on 0121 643 3720 • Email us on information@southsidebid.co.uk • Visit us at Southside BID Office, Gallan House, 32-34 Hill St, Southside, B5 4AN. • You can request a business visit at any time and if you need this information in Chinese, please ask.
Come to the Business Consultation on Monday 24th August at 3pm in the Southside BID Offices, Gallan House, 32-34 Hill St, Southside, B5 4AN
RSVP now to information@southsidebid.co.uk or call 01216433720 to secure your place.