Peterborough City councillor explains why it’s time to ‘get rid’ of Queensgate roundabout subways
Work will soon get underway to close and seal the city’s pedestrian underpasses at the Queensgate roundabout.
This July, More than 1,000 tonnes of concrete will be used to fill in two subways as Phase 1 of Peterborough’s ambitious £65 million Station Quarter regeneration project gets underway.
Speaking on Peterborough City Council’s ‘Ask the Cabinet’ podcast, the Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Mohammed Jamil, explained why he believed the subways had had their day.
“When the Development Corporation had the idea all those years ago it was good – subways were the way to go,” he said.
The Queensgate roundabout subways were built in the late 1970s as part of preparatory infrastructure works for the then-new Queensgate Shopping Centre.
At that time, urban planners saw pedestrian underpasses as futuristic ‘traffic separation’ features, championing their capabilities to help keep vulnerable pedestrians away from high-speed motor traffic.
While they may have improved safety in some respects, many subways eventually fell out of favour, becoming unsightly, unpleasant and – in some cases – unsafe.
“Society has moved on,” Cllr Jamil said. “People don’t feel safe anymore.”
The councillor said he would be glad to see the back of them.
“I’m glad that we are getting rid of them and everything is going to be at road level.”
The phase 1 project – known as City Link – will see the subways disappear and be replaced by a more user-friendly and aesthetically-pleasing routing which will provide direct, road-level access between Peterborough railway station and Cowgate.
“As a ward councillor I’m so looking forward to this,” Cllr Jamil said, adding; “It’s long overdue.”
The Cabinet Member for Finance admitted City Link would bring inevitable road closures and traffic issues.
“I’ve got quite a few taxi drivers in my ward and they’re already moaning about it,” he said.
“But it’s a bit of short-term pain for long-term gain.”
Cllr Jamil said the project showed how committed the current council administration is to improving the city’s infrastructure:
“We’ve been in power two years and people can see the difference we’re making.
“We’re doing things; we’re moving things on.
“Our city is on the up and it’s for us as an administration to make sure that we reach its potential.”