Future of town centre discussed

A group of post–graduate architecture students have set themselves the task of coming up with alternative ideas for Matlock’s Bakewell Road development.

The University of Nottingham students carried out a detailed analysis of Matlock town centre.

Their findings will not be presented in a public meeting on Monday, hosted by the Matlock Civic Association.

A spokesman for the civic association said: “They identified different options for a range of uses on the site between Bakewell Road and Imperial Road owned by the district council (which includes the old bus station, the indoor market and the Lido site). 

“They also developed suggestions for the possible development of adjacent sites which would link into the district council owned land.

“With the future of this site now under active discussion the student ideas may provide some inspiration for what might be possible on this vital site in the heart of Matlock.”

The students’ ideas include proposals for new public spaces in the development site as well as proposals for other community benefits alongside commercial development.

Professor Brian Ford, Holloway resident and member of the Bakewell Road Group and former head of the department of architecture at the University of Nottingham, will present the students’ ideas at the meeting.

The meeting still be at 7.30pm in the Methodist Church Hall, in Bank Road, Matlock.

The Bakewell Road development has been a hot topic in Matlock for several years, with residents and councillors at loggerheads about what should be done with the land, which is seen as a gateway to the town.

Anyone who wishes to comment on Bakewell Road, or the students’ proposals, can send a letter to the Mercury at [email protected]