Furnival Gardens

The new bridge necessitates some improvements to Furnival Gardens.

The new entrance into the Gardens from the pedestrian bridge consists of a gentle sloping route (with a maximum gradient of 1 in 21) which will be suitable for use by people with buggies and wheelchair users.

The route dog-legs to minimise the raised area of Furnival Gardens, with green banks formed between the legs of the route laid with grass to provide room for people to sit and enjoy the views across the river. These banks will also reduce the traffic noise from the A4 and only impact approximately 11% of the total space available in the Gardens.

Furnival Gardens is currently split in two by an existing pathway. The proposed design shifts the line of this footpath to integrate it into the new route, creating a larger area of useable space and stronger routes through the Gardens. As requested by local interest groups during the consultation, the design includes a zone for the reinstatement of the floral clock which was part of the original design of the Gardens.

As part of the design process we considered other possible options for the treatment of the Gardens, including providing steps leading down into the Gardens and installing a lift for disabled use, however we discounted this option as it would segregate disabled and able-bodied pedestrians and other such lifts have suffered from maintenance and vandalism problems.

The solution we have arrived at will integrate all users, allow sight lines across the A4 towards the Town Hall and from the bridge down towards the river, and also shield the Gardens from the sights and sounds of the road.