For many months, the centre of Bradford around City Hall has been a mess of roadworks. The transformation is finally complete, so I went along to see what they'd done. They have, rather boldly, closed a large area to traffic, making it safe and accessible for pedestrians and cyclists. They've landscaped it, turfed it and planted it with nearly 8000 plants, including 57 new trees: birch, rowan, maple, lime and juneberry, with cherry trees to form a blossom boulevard.
Joining up with the mirror pool in City Park, on the other side of City Hall, this central area of town is now largely focused on the civic and cultural life of Bradford. Newly pedestrianised streets from here down to the Broadway Shopping centre are all part of a bold vision to 'zone' the city centre, reduce the sprawling and mostly empty former shopping areas and make it a more pleasant, safer and more compact city centre. Buses and traffic have largely been diverted to a circular route around the centre, with the exception of vehicles necessary to service the central area.
One of the claims is that it will increase biodiversity in the city and, judging by the number of bees, butterflies and other insects on the plants, it certainly looks to have attracted wildlife. Money came from from the Transforming Cities Fund, awarded by the Government in 2020. I think, personally, it has been well spent and will make the city more attractive for visitors, both local and from further afield.
It takes courage nowadays to ban cars from anywhere, even just slightly reducing the number of parking spaces makes a city council extremely unpopular, what with most households owning several cars.
ReplyDeleteOpening formerly sealed surfaces is a great way to bring on a healthier climate, reduces the risk of flooding and generally makes for a much better environment.
Well done, Bradford!
It looks lovely.
ReplyDeleteWow that looks wonderful and it just shows what can be done in a city! 😁
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