Consultation Draft 1 - Stoke-on-Trent City Council

CONNECTIVITY 5
5.4 Gateways
Increasing Connectivity on the Potteries Way
As mentioned in the baseline document, the Potteries Way can
serve as a barrier to local residents approaching the City Centre
using non-motorised transport modes. Additionally, gateways located
on the approaches to Waterloo Road, Etruria Road, Hinde
Street, Lichfield Street and Bucknall Road are likely to host the
arrival of regional visitors as well as local residents.
As the ‘front doors’ of the city, these gateways need to be highly
attractive, welcoming and easy to cross, regardless of the transport
mode used. Signage needs to be clear and easy to understand,
and crossing points should accommodate ease of pedestrian
and cycle access, whilst reducing traffic congestion. As the
gateway to the Caldon Canal Way heritage trail and Canal Quarter
development, Lichfield Street should be particularly emphasised,
whilst addressing traffic congestion.
Best practice examples of public realm treatments to key gateways
that accommodate all user groups successfully include
the Place du Carrousel, opposite the Louvre in Paris, and Sheaf
Square in Sheffield.
Major Approaches
1. Etruria Road approach
This approach functions as a key vehicular approach for regional
motorists travelling from the M6 onto the A500 and then
the A53. The approach to Etruria Road should be enhanced to
provide a clear indication of the way to the City Centre. Suitable
treatments could include the development of the boulevard and
gateway signage incorporating public art.
2. Hinde Street
The proposed Street Car will cross this gateway, in addition to
dealing with link road vehicular traffic and pedestrian and cycle
users. Safety for all users is the key priority within this space,
with clearly defined and attractive routeways for different transport
modes. Clever use should be made of the distinctive bottle
oven located at this junction.
3. Lichfield Street
As the gateway to the East-West Centre from City Waterside,
The Caldon Canal Way and Canal Quarter, Lichfield Street will
experience an increase in non-motorised traffic. Improvements
are proposed for Derby Street to support the development of a
hotel at the apex of the City Waterside development. It is critical
that conflicts between motorised and non-motorised traffic are resolved
in a highly attractive and innovative manner at this point.
Local gateways
Local gateways should promote ease of accessibility by providing
safe and easy crossings for pedestrians in order to link surrounding
communities to the heart of the City Centre. The gateways
need to promote a sense of arrival to the City Centre, and promote
wayfinding.
A consistent public realm treatment should be adopted for local
gateways with an emphasis placed on lighting for safety and
security. Signage should still be incorporated but can be more
discrete. Views to locally distinctive buildings and surrounding
green links should be emphasised.
More detailed information relating to design interventions at
crossing points is given in chapter 6 of this document.
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4. Bucknall Road
Visitors travelling by vehicle on the A52 from the Staffordshire
Moorlands and Peak District will arrive at this gateway junction,
whilst the local Northwood community are likely to arrive on foot.
Again, safety for all users will be the priority, whilst an attractive
environments is critical.
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Sheaf Square, Sheffield
5. Waterloo Road Gateway
Vehicular users approaching the City Centre from Waterloo Road
and the A53 will use this junction, as will pedestrians and cyclists
approaching from the Greenway and Central Forest Park. The
principles of safety and promotion of wayfinding are applicable
Major gateway
Minor gateway
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