City’s newest road is having a ‘huge impact’
‘IT’S UTOPIA’ SAY RESIDENTS, AS ROAD LINK BETWEEN BEESTON AND LENTON OPENS
RESIDENTS living close to Nottingham’s newest road which connects Beeston Rylands and Lenton say the investment is having a huge impact on the city.
The 20mph road goes through part of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone and links Humber Road South in Beeston to Thane Road in Lenton, and opened to the public for the first time at 10am on March 31.
Residents living near to it say it is “incredibly useful”.
David Allcock, 74, worked at John Player all his life and lives in the Rylands, near to the new road.
Now retired, he said the new road would have been great for when he was working there.
“It allows you to cut out so much. It’s a great relief road.
“It takes out a lot of traffic along University Boulevard.
“We have been using it to get through to B&Q, it’s great.
“We’re in a utopia with it now though; it will be interesting to see it in a few years when it’s had development along it.
“I think it is safe though. I take my scooter along it and enjoy beautiful days like this.”
David added he did not feel like the speed bumps along the stretch are having a big enough impact though and has seen cars speeding along it.
As well as containing existing buildings and brownfield land to create new businesses, the south of the site also has space to develop up to
675 new homes.
Mary Rose, 63, of Beeston, lives nearby to the Boots headquarters and added: “It’s a great addition, it’s a pleasant drive and cuts out a big way around to access the south of the city easily. “I am glad it’s finally opened, it feels like it’s been coming for years. “There is an element of it will get much busier you’d imagine as more development is built near it.” The city council was provided with funding from the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership to create the road, and includes a new bridge over the Beeston Canal and will serve new developments and businesses in the Nottingham Enterprise Zone.
Alexa Davis, 44, who works in IT services and lives nearby added: “I can’t understand why people criticise it, it’s a positive thing in my opinion.
“It is a road that takes congestion from elsewhere - exactly what it’s designed to do.
“I am all for it. We’re quite tucked away here so it saves having to go via University Boulevard.”
In March 2011, part of the Boots site in Beeston was awarded Enterprise Zone status by the Government and is part of Nottingham and Derby’s Enterprise Zone, along with the Beeston Business Park, Nottingham Science Park and Infinity Park Derby.
Together they hope to become the UK’S centre for innovation for life sciences, medical research, health, beauty and wellness.
Enterprise Zones are areas with incentives to encourage the creation of new businesses, such as business incubators, start-ups and small and medium enterprises, which will contribute to the growth of local and national economies.
The project has involved a partnership with Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Boots, the D2N2 LEP and the Canals and Rivers Trust.
It is a road that takes congestion from elsewhere - exactly what it’s designed to do. Alexa Davis