Dream vision for Wolverhampton city centre junction

With not a car in sight, what is currently the busy traffic junction between Victoria Street, Skinner Street and Bell Street in Wolverhampton is re-imagined here as an attractive pedestrianised area basking in glorious sunshine.

The vision for the spot even shows it with its own water feature, trees and seating.

Skinner Street can be seen to the left with Bell Street running off to the right of Victoria Street in this picture which has today been released by the city council that hopes the vision will become a reality as part of a masterplan to improve links for pedestrians and cyclists in and around the city centre. It forms part of the council’s ‘Connected Places Strategy’, which is being presented to leading councillors next week when they will be asked to give it their seal of approval. The strategy will act as a future blueprint for all public realm works across the city.

To the top right of the frame, is the 17th century listed timber-framed building that was formerly Lindy Lou’s toy shop. It currently stands empty. The image shows a water feature in the centre of the frame with a mobile food van spotted to the left of the image, where a jacket potato stall currently operates from, as well as benches and topiaried trees. Plans are also currently being drawn up to create a walking and cycling route between the University of Wolverhampton’s Springfield campus, transport interchange and the city centre. And Wolverhampton market – currently located on the Westside site – will be shifted to Cleveland Street.

Councillor John Reynolds, cabinet member for city economy, said: “The city centre is undergoing massive change. All told there is £1 billion pounds worth of investment in the pipeline. We want the city centre to become a destination of choice for those who want a day out.”