Shared space for city centre takes shape
Written by Shaun Moore on June 23, 2010
Visitors to Gloucester city centre will be able to experience the new shared space concept when Kimbrose Way re-opens next month.
Civil engineers Balfour Beatty are currently working on the Kimbrose Square, Southgate Street sections on the £7million Gloucester Linkages scheme, which will link the city centre with the historic Docks. 
At the moment, Kimbrose Way is closed to traffic while it is being transformed into a new public square, which will be used by pedestrians and motorists under the shared space concept from July 12th. The road was originally due to re-open on June 28th but this has been delayed by two weeks.
Shared space has been adopted in many European countries and some towns and cities across the UK.
There will be no formal crossing points for pedestrians and motorists will be expected to give way to them.
The area will be flat with no road markings or kerbs, although there will be a defined route within the surfacing that they must follow.
A 20mph speed limit has been introduced to ensure vehicles are travelling slowly.
Sign posting around the city directs traffic away from this area onto the Gloucester South West Bypass and St Ann Way or the Inner Relief Road so the only vehicles that need to use this area are those that require access to businesses.
For a lot of motorists this will be a new experience and will require them to drive in a totally different manner than they are used to.
Nigel Edgeworth the county council’s project manager, said: “This is an exciting new venture for the city and I would ask any motorist driving through the square to be extremely cautious, considerate and courteous to pedestrians and cyclists in the area and remember to give way to them.
“It will be very different to how things are at the moment so it will take time to adjust to the new system, indeed some motorists may prefer to take alternative routes around the city.”
Cllr Stan Waddington, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “At the moment there is no direct path between the city centre and the Docks and the shared space concept will help provide a clear route between the two attractions.
“This is the first time we have used the shared space concept in this county and I’m looking forward to seeing it in practise.”
Chris Oldershaw, chief executive of Gloucester Heritage Urban Regeneration Company, (GHURC) said: “Shared space works well elsewhere across the UK and Europe where it provides a versatile space for traffic and pedestrians.
“In Gloucester, it allows us to create a new Kimbrose Square bringing together Gloucester Quays and Docks with the city centre for the first time in recent history.”
For more information, visit http://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/linkages
