Brew 5,422 Posted April 16, 2021 Report Share Posted April 16, 2021 I think we need to be careful what we wish for. Going back to what was is a wistful idea but not one that would necessarily work. We all like a little nostalgia but realistically how relevant would rebuilding Drury Hill be? The shops would be small ‘boutique’ here today gone tomorrow type and hardly likely to afford city centre rents and rates. It would not be long before the howls of protest about access and congestion started and the council castigated for agreeing to a stupid idea. Carrington Street could be remade quite easily but why, to what end? City planners are determined to pedestrianise the centre so how much use would there be having an arterial road direct to the Market Square? In the programme it mentions building using more ‘traditional’ methods – never going to happen – far too expensive to build and maintain. Pianoman mentioned Dresden but the comparison doesn’t stand up. Dresden is a much bigger city with a dramatically lower population density, nor, with the exception of a few buildings, did they rebuild ‘as was’. The avenues and boulevards of Dresden are huge with modern apartment blocks everywhere. We hate the ‘malls’ but use them anyway. Who wants to go back to going from shop to shop lugging bags of shopping before trekking off to the tram or bus stop? Since the 70’s the population pf Nottingham has more than doubled. What was viable then would not be fit for purpose now and building for ‘now’ would be short sighted. At the end of the day the council will decide and there’s almost nothing anyone can do about it, I have little faith in their ‘public consultation’. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bamber 128 Posted April 16, 2021 Report Share Posted April 16, 2021 At the end of the day the council will decide and there's almost nothing anyone can do about it It's the developers who will decide. The City is too broke to contemplate fighting a vastly expensive appeal in the High Court; especially if you have an SoS like Robert Jenrick who invariably favours the developers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,145 Posted April 16, 2021 Report Share Posted April 16, 2021 Who wants to go shopping in the city with all the hassle of carrying things to the ‘bus or car? Shopping may be a pleasure for some people but, since the lockdowns, I’ve much preferred having stuff delivered to the door. There are certain things like fresh foods that are better selected in a shop of course. Looking at the recent queues for Primark there are still a lot of enthusiastic shoppers out there! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brew 5,422 Posted April 16, 2021 Report Share Posted April 16, 2021 42 minutes ago, bamber said: It's the developers who will decide Not in this case, ownership has reverted back to the council I believe and it will be a council decision who they choose for the contract. The Chinese took a huge chunk of a similar situation in Bolton, how much input they will have remains to be seen. Maybe NCC will go the same way though it will probably cost oodles to the taxpayer the same as the tram... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stuart.C 491 Posted May 18, 2021 Report Share Posted May 18, 2021 Even the New York Times is interested in what's happeneing to Broad Marsh. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/18/world/europe/nottingham-broadmarsh-centre.html?fbclid=IwAR0BLySaIiQ_jlkWgahIo7QJEZ5TsGD5LogLa4vh1U9M23WPGdYOyc8HWPw 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,470 Posted May 18, 2021 Report Share Posted May 18, 2021 Interesting reading - and photos. I'd pick fault with them on one point.....the caption to their first photo says "Shops in the streets beyond are thriving". No way is that correct. The streets all around Broad Marsh are an extreme ghost town. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Willow wilson 894 Posted May 18, 2021 Report Share Posted May 18, 2021 They've made a sorry mess of Jill's old garden. What a disgrace, they spoiled the whole place. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jill Sparrow 10,307 Posted May 18, 2021 Report Share Posted May 18, 2021 Sad to hear that, Willow. They should have left the entire area alone BEFORE they built that awful shopping centre. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
katyjay 5,091 Posted May 18, 2021 Report Share Posted May 18, 2021 I don't know who thought the city needed a 2nd indoor shopping centre. If I remember correctly, Victoria Centre was still fairly new when they started BM. I guess they thought, if one was good, 2 were better. It never did take off, and a quick turnaround in a lot of shops. I never liked it, myself, and only shopped at BHS. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,470 Posted May 21, 2021 Report Share Posted May 21, 2021 The NEP have a series of photos showing the inside in its current state.......abandoned and semi-derelict. https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/nottingham-news/gallery/eerie-images-show-inside-ruins-5443395 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jill Sparrow 10,307 Posted May 21, 2021 Report Share Posted May 21, 2021 There was a video of it on BBC news earlier today. I have to admit, I didn't recognise it. It's many years since I've been there and I somehow never liked the Broad Marsh Centre. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
notty ash 371 Posted May 26, 2021 Report Share Posted May 26, 2021 An old photo from the Broadmarsh car park 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,470 Posted May 26, 2021 Report Share Posted May 26, 2021 Considerably modified, the white building centre-right with three windows, is still there. https://goo.gl/maps/fQzBb3D8ue1k9L6k7 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beekay 5,159 Posted May 26, 2021 Report Share Posted May 26, 2021 CT, that building to which you refer, isn't that the one where you could buy snooker cues, among other things? I'm only guessing, as it was back in 1963 ish when I bought mine. Went down there with a mate ( Alan Roberts) from Bilborough depot. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,470 Posted May 26, 2021 Report Share Posted May 26, 2021 I've no idea what the place used to be, even though I went past it on a bus many times in the 60s. If it was a snooker cue place, do you remember the name ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beekay 5,159 Posted May 26, 2021 Report Share Posted May 26, 2021 Unfortunately not., it is over 50 years ago. The only thing I'm reasonably sure of, is that it's a well known name. So well known I can't remember it ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stuart.C 491 Posted May 26, 2021 Report Share Posted May 26, 2021 Elston There's mention on this link; https://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/forum/snooker-billiards-equipment/cues/18059-elston-cue Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beekay 5,159 Posted May 26, 2021 Report Share Posted May 26, 2021 Thanks for the post Stuart, that was a great reminder. Elston & Hopkin brings it all back. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,470 Posted May 26, 2021 Report Share Posted May 26, 2021 I've learned something about Elston & Hopkins. The name rang a bell and reading Stuart C's link, they had a snooker hall on Goldsmith Street which is where I remember seeing their name. But they also had a workshop on Canal Street which is presumably what Beekay remembers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,470 Posted September 2, 2022 Report Share Posted September 2, 2022 This is what Broad Marsh Centre looks like now. The road on the right is/was Collin Street. The white building coming in centre-left is the old Woolworth's on Lister Gate. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beekay 5,159 Posted September 2, 2022 Report Share Posted September 2, 2022 Surely it's about time they did something with this blot on the landscape, even if it's only to use it for bomb practice. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stuart.C 491 Posted December 8, 2022 Report Share Posted December 8, 2022 Fear not Beekay, work is due to start next year,, https://westbridgfordwire.com/the-uks-longest-bench-to-be-part-of-broad-marsh-green-heart-development/?fbclid=IwAR3OPsDz4H4u2wbd-Jc_mcyvUqtiueomoF88WUOr2FsJzvdmsKhsnem5UC4 However I'm not convinced that the longest bench in the U.K is going to be such a good idea. It'll be perfect for cyclists, both pedal and electric, scooterists, skateboarders, skaters, freerunners to do stunts on and off and come nightfall a good place for some of the homeless to sleep on. It may also prove to be a good place for drug dealing etc. And if there's any room left maybe a few people could actually sit on it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beekay 5,159 Posted December 8, 2022 Report Share Posted December 8, 2022 Thank you Stuart, however, I won't be holding my breath or charging my camera batteries yet. B. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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