Shops, cafes and bars should be able to benefit from two pedestrianisation schemes being introduced in Leicester early in 2023.
The city council hopes businesses will make the most of improvements to the main Narborough Road into the city, and Braunstone Gate, which branches off it.
The council wants to make both more pedestrian friendly, including cutting car access in Braunstone Gate – which has been a popular destination for drinkers and diners for several decades. Food outlets along it include Cedars Lebanese restaurant, Bombay Bites and Yumchi, along with bars Mood, the Dog House, The Metal Monocle and Natterjacks, and the Black Horse pub.
Work in Narborough Road will start on January 8 and will take about 10 weeks. It will include adding bollards and cycle racks to prevent pavement parking, replacing broken and loose slabs and tackling drainage problems between the junctions with Ruding Road and Roman Street.
Work will also continue in Braunstone Gate as part of a larger £1.5 million redevelopment scheme paid for by the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund.
The latest phase will begin on January 23 and include removing the left-turn lane from Braunstone Gate into Narborough Road, as well as resurfacing and creating a new footway.
The pavement will be re-laid and three trees which are damaging the footway will be removed and replaced. A bus stop at the southern end of Braunstone Gate will be moved to Narborough Road.
Coun Adam Clarke, Deputy City Mayor for transport, clean air and climate emergency, said: “These works both in Braunstone Gate and Narborough Road aim to improve facilities for pedestrians and cyclists and make it easier to access these shops, bars and other local businesses safely.
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“Some of the work is straightforward repairs and improvements to pavements and street furniture such as cycle racks and bollards, whereas in Braunstone Gate we are working on the latest phase of a more comprehensive redesign to transform the street for the better.”
Work in Braunstone Gate began in May, giving more priority to cycles and pedestrians and closing the road to unnecessary traffic at busy times. Access from Duns Lane and New Park Street is now restricted to buses, taxis and cycles, and the left turn from Western Boulevard has been closed to traffic, except cycles.
Most on-street parking in Braunstone Gate has gone, to make way for create wider pavements. Businesses will be able to apply for street café licences and outside seating areas.
Disabled parking bays will be retained and additional pay-and-display spaces included in Bede Street and Western Road.