Bristol City Centre Fountains Set for Transformation Next Month
Bristol’s city centre will see major upgrades, including filling in fountains and replacing trees, starting next month.
Bristol, UK, Fountains, City Centre, Trees, Renovation
Bristol: Next month, work kicks off to revamp the city centre. They’re planning to cover up those broken fountains that have been an eyesore for a while. The whole promenade is getting a facelift, and it’s about time!
They’ll be replacing five trees that have gotten too big for their planters. Safety first, right? In February, they’ll start putting in platforms over some steps by Broad Quay. This will create more space for food stalls and other fun stuff.
After that, they’ll fill in the sunken fountains and take out the wooden decking. The goal is to have a nice, uniform surface all around. They expect to wrap this up by April.
While the work is happening, the middle of Centre Promenade will be fenced off. But don’t worry, the harbour market will still be open and flexible around the construction. Plus, the cycle track will stay open, and there will be clear signs for pedestrians.
Now, about those trees. The council decided to remove them as a last resort. They’ve been in those planters for five years, but their roots are pushing out and causing damage. If they’re not taken out, they could become unstable, which is a risk for everyone nearby.
Once the trees are gone, they’ll fix up the planters and plant five new Judas trees. The council had a consultation about this back in November and December, and it seems like the best option.
They can’t just move the old trees because they’re too big and would need to be cut down in sections. The wood from the felled trees will be turned into woodchip for bio-mass boilers in schools and other public buildings. So, at least it won’t go to waste!
This project is part of a bigger plan to make the harbour market area more usable for events and for people moving between the Neptune statue and the Cascade Steps.
Councillor Andrew Brown mentioned that removing the trees is unfortunate but necessary. He’s excited about the new trees that will bloom with pink flowers in spring. It’ll really brighten up the area!
Once everything’s done, they’ll have a smooth surface with new seating and plants. It’ll create more space for events and make it easier for people to get around. The changes should make Centre Promenade feel more open and welcoming.
When the construction wraps up, they’ll even have a large-scale artwork by artist Oshii to top it all off. The council is also looking into making the cycle route more visible, with resurfacing expected in spring or summer.
For more details, check out the Bristol City Council website.