QUEENSMEAD GIVEN OVER TO PEDESTRIANS

The Queensmead development in Farnborough was completed in 1961. In 1973 a landscape working party was set up to consider its pedestrianization and final draft plans were prepared by March 1974. Before closure to vehicular traffic, various works were carried out to provide alternative parking areas to compensate for the lost on-street parking. At the same time, access to existing parking facilities had to be maintained. The first stage of the town centre relief road created island sites which provided alternative parking and in March 1975 Queensmead was closed to traffic. The pedestrianization works were then started, with the laying of drainage, ducting and sub-base material. As a base to the paving, 100 mm of wet-mix concrete was used. The paving was then laid on a one inch sand/cement bed. All features were built of reconstructed stone with contrasting mortar joints and seating was provided in the form of teak-slatted benches and seats. Drainage was effected by the use of in-situ drainage slots, all manholes being covered with removeable paving slabs. Under-paving fluorescent lighting was installed to under-light the trees, with additional lighting in the form of underseat fittings. Street light consisted mainly of 5-sphere fittings. /TRRL/