Gloucester Renaissance: The Magnificent 7

GLOUCESTER RENAISSANCE

agreed. How to capitalise on that to benefit the rest of the city was the next challenge – while the momentum and will remains. Owen Acland, centre manager of the Quays, said: “The real success of The Quays is not the Quays. It is the effect it has had on the area round it. the Quays on its own is just a shopping centre. It is the ripple effect and that has been great to see. “I think we need to celebrate what is here,” added Mr Acland, referring to the heritage of the city and the successes to date. Joe Roberts, a director of city architects Roberts Limbrick, said:“I am pleased with the work so far. I think in reality there is still more to do. The worst thing we can do is sit on our laurels.” He added: “The Quays is a success. When I bought my wife here 20-plus years ago we walked around the Docks and there was just Merchants Quay. There was nothing else there. “But the Quays has worked, and it has given Gloucester its mojo back. And it has given Cheltenham a bloody nose. It used to be that if you wanted to go shopping or for a meal, you had to go to Cheltenham. Not anymore. It is all here. I think that is brilliant.” The success of Gloucester was now driving Cheltenham to do better, it was felt, and perhaps there was a dawning realisation they are stronger together. Jeremy Williamson, of Cheltenham Development Task Force, said: “When Gloucester first applied for planning for the Quays Cheltenham did not even write a letter. It

did not think it would happen.” Becky Brown, of SF Planning, said: “What the Quays has done is helped shock Cheltenham out of its complacency. What we now need to realise is that the two places can complement one another.” One of the solutions for a better working relationship on all levels between Cheltenham and Gloucester, the county and the UK as a whole, the Quays and the city centre, the city train station and Transport Hub and the rest of Gloucester was connectivity. Which brought us to transport policy. Mr Williamson said any plan also needed to be outward facing. “We fell out over the railway stations 20 years ago. But we need to look at an integrated transport plan – not just for Gloucester, or Gloucester to Cheltenham, but in the context of the region,” said Mr Williamson. He added: “When we looked at the figures for Cheltenham we have found only 23 per cent of those who come shopping in the town come by car. The idea that everyone comes by car is a myth. You ask any retailer and they will say you need car parking. There is nothing to substantiate it. “People who don’t come in by car, but come in every day, spend more over time.” Bringing public transport to their heart, helped sustain them, he said. “Should we reconsider running buses back over The Cross?” he asked (as said, it was nothing if not

88 | July 2019 | www. punchline-gloucester .com

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