This was originally posted on Twitter, 8 July 2024.
For the first time since the early 1970s Nottingham City Centre is connected to the railway station via a *permanent* route that doesn’t involve going inside a shopping centre! 🥳(still WIP)
5 years ago in July 2019 (back when our PM was Theresa May!) – the uninviting entrance to the city centre, across a 4 line gyratory and along a narrow pavement, and having seen better days. Intu Broadmarsh redevelopment works having recently started.
Feb 2020 – The start of intu’s attempts to split Intu Broadmarsh into 2 and create a more direct path into the city centre
Sept 2020 – After lockdown and Intu going into administration the ruins of the Broadmarsh Centre being abandoned and opened to the elements
The entrance to the city being thru the old entrance, but looking like the building above had collapsed. The 3-4 lane gyratory now closed to motor traffic.
September 2021 (PM Johnson) – a new temporary entrance to the city, the old building/entrance now being demolished, so a tight tunnel carved out thru the remains of the centre
September 2022 (PM Truss) – For the first time in over 4 decades a new outdoor route was opened up
March 2024 (PM Sunak) – Works on The Green Heart now well under way and the 18 month old path now closed, another temporary path now open for use, winding its way round the edge of the new park.
And today [8 July, 2024] (PM Starmer), the new path now open, while works continue on the Green Heart
And the view looking back towards the rail station