‘Shared space’ images for Moseley revealed at last weeks public meeting

Leading street designer Paola Spivach of Hamilton-Baillie Associates presented the images below as part of the  about proposals to introduce the controversial ‘shared space’ scheme in the area.

Moseley Forum, the neighbourhood forum for Moseley, has commissioned Hamilton-Baillie Associates to investigate the feasibility of using shared space principles to transform the centre of Moseley into a pedestrian friendly area.  Ms Spivach presented proposals including a detailed plan and artist’s impressions of the transformation at the meeting.

Shared space, described by Ms Spivach as a “streetscape enhancement”, involves removing barriers between road and pavement traffic. In practice this means the removal of almost all road signs from an area and potentially the lowering of kerbstones to road level.

The guiding principle of shared space, according to Hamilton-Baillie Associates, is the introduction of ‘self-regulation’.  The system has already been applied successfully in the UK in Kensington High Street and in several towns in the Netherlands but there are concerns over the practicalities of using shared space in an area with as much traffic as Moseley.

The above artistic impression gives a view of The Green and the main junction of Alcester Road and St Mary's Row/Salisbury Road. The main changes have been to introduce a roundabout and centre dividing aisle along Alcester Road enabling pedestrians to cross each direction of traffic separately.

The above image shows the Alcester Road view into Moseley with the main Woodbridge Road junction to the left. Note that Alcester Road has been reduced to two lanes in this illustration with signage indicating the change of road design. A centre section for pedestrians with additional trees planted and cycle stands is also included. 

More information at Moseley Forum