Local residents and businesses are being encouraged to take part in a 12-week consultation to help shape plans to transform an area in the city centre to enable improved accessibility and more active and sustainable travel options.

The council have been successful in securing over £162m from the DfT’s Transforming Cities Fund and Active Travel Fund, and are now developing a number of schemes that will bring significant changes to the city’s local transport network, providing greater flexibility, accessibility and choice.

Back in July 2020, some interim emergency schemes were introduced across the city to respond to the ongoing pandemic and create safer spaces to encourage more socially distance walking and cycling journeys.  This included a number of temporary measures on Corporation Street, Albert Street and Victoria Street:

  • One-way traffic with two-way cycling from Exchange Street junction to Victoria Street’s junction with Wardwick.
  • Suspension of the bus stop outside HSBC. 
  • Extra space created around the bus stops outside Hook and Eye on Albert Street, and the former Debenhams site on Victoria Street to allow bus passengers and pedestrians to practice social distancing and create a safer environment.
  • Re-routing of inbound buses down Bold Lane, Cathedral Road, Full Street and Corporation Street.
  • Access only to buses, taxis, cyclists and pedestrians on Corporation Street between the hours of 7.00am and 7.00pm

Due to the government criteria and funding conditions, the scheme had to be developed quickly and implemented without the usual pre-scheme consultation.

The Council are now seeking views of local residents and businesses on the early stage designs for the city centre, that look to allow better movement for pedestrians and cyclists between St Peter’s Quarter and the Cathedral Quarter, and have opened up an online consultation to invite comments and suggestions that will inform and develop the final scheme.   The consultation will close on Friday 4th June.

Nigel Brien, Head of Traffic and Transportation said:

“Covid-19 has presented many challenges, and the ‘Moving Derby Forward’ project gave us an opportunity to look at ways that could support the uptake of active travel and public transport provision, and make some positive environmental changes across the city.  

The temporary measures, implemented very quickly, were designed to help with social distancing and enable easier active travel. We’d like feedback from local residents and businesses to help us decide if there are any permanent changes we can make and, of course, anything specific they feel hasn’t worked and shouldn’t be pursued. 

I’d like to encourage as many people as possible to take a look at the proposals, to help inform and shape the final designs for the Victoria Street, Albert Street and Corporation Street area.”