Southampton City Council has revealed plans for the Bedford Place and Carlton Place areas that it says will “will improve the area for everyone and enhance its unique character as a boutique leisure and shopping destination”.
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The authority says designs were shared with members of the Bedford Place Co-Design Working Group, which “includes both residents and local businesses as well as other key stakeholders”.
But plans appear to stop short of re-pedestrianising Bedford Place. Whether or not to keep it closed to traffic sparked a political row when it was reopened in July 2021 following a period of closure from August 2020, to promote hospitality businesses and social distancing.
On its consultation page the council says: “The proposed measures on Bedford Place itself aim to reduce traffic speeds and increase safety. To do this the design incorporates a curved ‘buildout’ on Bedford Place, at its junction with Carlton Place. The buildout, or widened pavement area, will have a level surface and provide an accessible public area with greening and seating. Traffic will be slowed as the buildout will narrow the carriageway and provide an informal 'give way'. It will also reinforce the wider 20mph speed limit planned for the Polygon area.”
It also says that a key design feature for the now permanently pedestrianised area of Carlton Place will be an “enhanced” open space at the centre of its junction with Lower Bannister Street, suitable for “pop up events or markets, with a level surface throughout to make the area more accessible for everyone, along with upgraded CCTV and lighting to improve night-time visibility”.
For more information about the proposals and to have a say by October 23, go to this council web page.
Bedford Place during its 'pedestrianised period'