Beeston people welcome tram despite fears of disruption
DIVERTED buses and congestion on roads will prove a major inconvenience during tram works in Beeston – but will be worth it in the end.
That was the feeling among residents spoken to by the Post at a public drop-in session at The Pearson Centre in the town. Changes to the way all traffic moves around the town centre will be introduced on Monday, March 25, and last for about a year.
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Coming soon: An artist's impression of the proposed Chilwell Road tram stop, Beeston.
Pensioner Pam Brown, of Marlborough Road, said: "There won't be major issues getting into the city, but it is coming back where I will be affected. It seems I will have either a long walk or will have to go to the bus station and then get another bus. It will be disruptive."
Margaret Jones, 72, said: "It will make life difficult. I will have to walk a much longer way home and I struggle to get around at the best of times.
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"But I think it will be worth it in the long run."
The tram line is being constructed through Beeston to Chilwell. The traffic diversions will allow for the next phase of work, including moving pipes and cables, installing tracks and building tram stops.
The changes include:
Middle Street, between Station Road and Regent Street, becoming one-way for traffic heading eastbound from Beeston towards Nottingham.
Middle Street, between Station Road and Dovecote Lane, becoming one-way for traffic heading westbound from Beeston to Chilwell.
Dovecote Lane, between Middle Street and Leslie Avenue, becoming one-way for traffic heading south from the town centre.
Chilwell Road and High Road, between Middle Street and Cator Lane/Meadow Lane - no through-traffic.
Rod Sladen, 64, of Beeston, was studying the maps yesterday. He said: "I am pro-tram but the roadworks are going to cause difficulty. There are some big holes in the plans for re-routing buses. But the tram will be good for Beeston."
Alan Rogers, 56, of Chilwell, said: "There's not a lot you can do. It is a big project so it is bound to cause disruption. The tram will be great."
Heather Sharp, 36, of Chilwell, wasn't so approving, saying: "It's going to be a mess. I don't see the need for the tram. We have a good bus route."
Tram operators Nottingham Express Transit and contractors Taylor Woodrow Alstom have pledged to keep disruption to a minimum.
On the web: See video on this story, and give us your views, at www.thisisnottingham.co.uk
20 Comments
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by kilowatt2
Friday, March 15 2013, 6:37AM
“The tram's happening - deal with it!”
by MeAndYou
Friday, March 15 2013, 6:28AM
“Well Nottingham has the 2nd highest levels of nitrogen dioxide in the UK and the worst trafic out side london. So im all for this!
Everyone on here wants to save money? and im sure everyone wants more free time I know i do. Well you will not need a car for work if you live around the tram it will get you to nottingham faster and cleaner than a car with 1000s of pound saving each year. Growth will come as it is showen in every big city in the world, people simply like convenience”
by harrystotle1
Thursday, March 14 2013, 8:43PM
“"soraya The Government is keen to spend the money because it is known that the trams are good for business and will boost the economy."
Can you provide a link to the benefits realisation study that shows Stage One of the tram has brought any benefits at all to Nottingham ?
I thought not.”
by MR_B_NOTTM
Thursday, March 14 2013, 8:26PM
“because it is known that the trams are good for business and will boost the economy
tongue in cheek comment by any chance, lol.....”
by ToryMan
Thursday, March 14 2013, 8:06PM
“indigo5 Do you not see the contradiction in what you are saying? You claim to care about elderly people and children and yet you are anti tram!!! Do you really not want a thriving economy where wealth creators are able to generate the jobs and income needed to pay for the schools and the hospitals? We can not spend money we do have but we can generate wealth through enterprise, innovation and infrastructure improvements.”
by ToryMan
Thursday, March 14 2013, 7:40PM
“soraya The Government is keen to spend the money because it is known that the trams are good for business and will boost the economy. Are you really saying you do not want businesses to thrive or that you would rather other cities took the benefit and that your local economy and environment was left to decline?”
by digbypatch
Thursday, March 14 2013, 7:34PM
“FormallyW
I was thinking the same.
If the person asking the question do you want the tram to the people who live on the route they would possibly of got 90 percent against it. And the same if they asked people who do not live on the route if they want the tram they would of possibly got 90 percent who would says yes.”
by digbypatch
Thursday, March 14 2013, 7:29PM
“Beeston-lass
What has the tram got to do with the Pubs closing? Nothing because pubs are closing down all over the country.
They are closing because of the smoking ban, the price of a pint and the recession, people can go into the local supermarket and buy several cans for the price of a pint in the pub and sit at home and drink.
I stopped going into a pub for a drink 18 years a go because most of the time you would be on your own and the price for a pint then was about £2.00 a pint.
Shops are closing down in every high street all over the country because of the recession and all the supermarkets that have moved into town centres.
In a couple of years time when the tram is up and running and Beeston precinct has been rebuilt people will forget about all the delays which are now starting to effect local people
Whenever there are any road closures people start to look for ways of getting around and usually manage it.
I am neither pro or anti tram but will use it rather than the bus if I need to travel into Nottingham.”
by FormerlyW
Thursday, March 14 2013, 4:17PM
“"90% didnt want the tram yet the council have done what they want anyway and approved it." --- Beeston-Lass
That's an interesting statistic. Where did it come from?”
by andmikel
Thursday, March 14 2013, 3:23PM
“The survey was not exactly a professional one. Very few of the local residents call in at the Pearson Centre and those that do are obviously nearer the tram to take advantage of it. The majority of residents will not have easy access to the tram and live more than half a mile away at least. The tram stops are much further apart than most bus stops and for people carrying shopping or any other weighty item they are not convenient. For residents living toward the A52 the tram is a non event and those living near between Wollaton Road, Park Steet, Bramcote Avenue to the the top of Inham Nook the walk home from the nearest tram stop will be up inclines, some of which are too much for the elderly and infirm. Many in Beeston Rylands will not benefit from the tram. So where do you get the idea that most of the residents views are represented by those who called in at the drop in centre. The tram is a white elephant and will only work for those who want to travel on the HS train from Toton, if it makes it there in time. Beeston, in the mean time has been decimated and spoilt without redress or representation.”