News / Centre
Black tarmac to remain on Centre throughout summer
Artwork on the black tarmac where the fountains used to be on the Centre is finally due to be installed in September.
The faulty fountains have been removed and contractors have paved over the area with black tarmac, but the job has not yet been finished.
Future plans include a large piece of artwork covering the ground, similar to one on Clare Street, which will be jointly funded by the business improvement district and Bristol City Council.
is needed now More than ever
Work to remove the fountains began in February after they had been broken for several years and were deemed too hard to fix.
New details of when the artwork by Bristol artist Oshii will be installed were revealed in a written answer to a question ahead of a member forum meeting.
The statement said: “The black tarmac surface was chosen as the most cost effective and is not the final surface as it is providing the base surface for the legacy project public artwork painting.
“This would not be suitable on a paved surface.
“The City Centre BID is funding the artwork commission and artists.
“The artwork implementation and painting is funded by BCC Harbour Estates and BCC Culture revenue budget.
“The painting is being delivered by local Bristol Upfest (sic) in September.”
Artwork on the corner of Clare Street and Marsh Street in the Old City has also been installed on black tarmac – photo: Martin Booth
Removing the fountains means there is more space for pedestrians and market stalls on the Centre.
But there is concern, however, that large puddles remain on the new black tarmac following heavy showers, with nowhere for the water to drain.
Large trees were chopped down as they had outgrown their planters with dangerous cracks appearing. Smaller trees have been planted to replace them, which better fit the containers.
The bike lanes running parallel to where the fountains were and on the other side of Baldwin Street as far as Colston Avenue have now been upgraded, with the paving stones replaced with black tarmac.
Tiny bicycle symbols were replaced with much larger ones, making it clearer that the bike lane is for cyclists and not for pedestrians.
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Main photo: Martin Booth
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