Photos reveal islands’ contrasting fortunes
SOME more fascinating aerial photographs of Derby have emerged from the Bygones archive. These involve traffic islands that with their flowers and shrubs were often a talking point around Derby.
In the photograph, right, is a traffic junction that has undergone change and the traffic island reduced in size. Instead of well-laid out borders, it is now a mass of vegetation.
The picture shows the furniture store – later an Indian restaurant – on the corner of what is now Lara Croft Way and the empty land on the right of the image is now occupied by units belonging to Bradshaw Way retail park – and possibly taken in 1975.
Bradshaw Way was constructed around 1960 and the traffic island dates from this time.
In our other photo, the traffic islands looks far from decorative. Instead, it looks rather untidy and neglected. It is, in fact, Markeaton island at the junction of Queensway, Kingsway and Ashbourne Road.
Over the years, it has seen its fair share of spills after lorries failed to negotiate it and shed their loads and at one point was reduced in size to make it easier for heavy good vehicles to negotiate it.
In the next few years, expect more changes as improvement work to the A38 will see an underpass at this junction allowing traffic to travel from the north to south across the city without being held up at roundabouts and traffic lights.
This 1984 photograph shows the houses on Queensway to the left of the island which are due to be demolished to make way for the A38 improvements and allow the underpass to be built.
The white-roofed building in the foreground is likely to be the former Derbsyhire Yeoman pub, now the site of a popular McDonald’s restaurant. Part of Markeaton Park can be seen to the bottom left of the photograph.