New Regent Street mall planned

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33001, 22 August 1972, Page 18

New Regent Street mall planned

The City’ Council is in favour of New Regent Street becoming a pedestrian mall. A joint committee consisting of appointees from owners and occupiers of properties in the street and the council town planning committee is to be set up to implement the proposal.

Council representatives] on the committee will be the chairmen of the townj planning’ committee (Crl committee (Cr R. M. Macfarlane), and traffc committee (Cr W. Massey).

Cr Clark said that considerable support for the mall proposal was evident amongst shopkeepers in the street. On traffic grounds there would seem to be no good reason for retaining through traffic in New Regent Street. “The scale of the street and its relationship to the rest of the central business district makes it a desirable proposition as pedestrian precinct. Nearby banks, the Manchester Street pai king building and the Armagh Street Post Office were all likely to make increases in pedestrians using New Regent Street. A further factor is the redevelopment of the Centennial Pool.”

Cr Clark said that emergency vehicles only would be able to use New Regent Street, goods vehicles working only at specified times — between mid-night and 10 am., for instance; the surface of the street would be redesigned so that distinction between the road and footpath would be eliminated; the street might be laid out with street furniture, flower beds, seats, paving and so on; special events would be allowed to take place on the street; there would possibly

be licensed stalls and exhibitions.

A brochure with questionnaire was being prepared for distribution to owners and

occupiers of properties in the street and would be collected soon by council staff, who would be able to explain and clarify points raised.