Humber Street fruit market has vibrancy and potential - but needs better links to grow
FREEDOM Festival 2012 saw crowds in their thousands descend upon the Humber Street area of the city.
Swarming in from the city centre, those same crowds, made up of families, dads pushing prams, wheelchair users, the elderly, almost every model and make of humanity, were forced to cross the busiest road in the city and negotiate a small concrete island via two pedestrian crossings manned by a couple of harassed police officers.
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Vibrant: Crowds in Humber Street for the Freedom Festival
The situation was, quite frankly, not just ridiculous but downright dangerous and was, surely, the only blight on an otherwise truly glorious event.
There were grumbles at the time, and there will – rightfully – be a growing crescendo of grumbles every time the situation occurs. Teetering on the edge of the island, waiting for the stream of cars and lorries to stop so we could cross, the situation seemed like a tragedy waiting to happen.
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Now, ambitious plans have been revealed to build a land bridge over the A63 at Castle Street.
After all, the occasions when thousands of people are streaming towards that section of the city are only going to increase.
For, after years of being let down by failed funding, indecision and unfulfilled promises, the Humber Street area is on the rise.
The belief and sheer dogged determination of a few individuals – who have put their own money where public cash failed to go – has meant this is an area of the city that is becoming the cultural and creative heart of Hull. There is a sense of vibrancy and potential about the area that deserves to be massaged by public money.
The problem if, of course, we feel we have seen it all before. So many times, it seems Hull is going to benefit from some cash only to have it disappear into somebody else’s pot at the last minute.
This time around, however, things look more hopeful: Lord Heseltine is involved. If he can pave the way for Hull to be granted City Deal status, we may not just benefit from a one-off improvement to infrastructure but to direct access to government funds and a bigger say in how that is spent in the long term.
There can be no doubt that improved links to the Humber Street area will only help the regeneration of this important part of our city.
Let us hope this time around the right decisions are made and 2013 will become to be seen as the turning point not only for Humber Street but for Hull.
10 Comments
by gmdavison
Wednesday, January 30 2013, 9:34AM
“Bridges with lifts and betterstill escalators and yes they do work in the rain. . Easy to fit and yes there is al imit to capacity but agood idea for events as it will make the control of crowds”
by faythy
Wednesday, January 30 2013, 9:21AM
“It'd be great if the fruit market was to become like the intricate streets of York. Home grown artists, nice and unusual cafes and delis, great little shops where you find things not available amongst the mass produced wares in the big stores. I doubt the council would have the vision to help develop and encourage this though, and if they did, they'd want to hear the kerchingg of the coffers filling up, putting off potential occupants.”
by scooter234
Wednesday, January 30 2013, 7:20AM
“If it was so dangerous to cross, why didn't the police close the crossings and make everyone safely walk under the bridge. Simple solution cost nothing but a few calories.”
by jenoh
Wednesday, January 30 2013, 12:05AM
“Sorry if this is a bit dim, but how will a bridge be helpful for dads pushing prams and wheelchair users? Is the idea to have these as well as the existing pedestrian crossings?
I completely agree with all the positive comments regarding Humber Street and how it should develop.”
by india7
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 10:34PM
“Only in a place like Hull will you get its council thinking it was a good idea to allow 'a motorway' to tear through its city centre!
Worse still, some of them very people who allowed it to go ahead UNCHALLENGED are still a part of our council!!
This city council and its MP's get away with their incompetence simply because it is Hull. Elsewhere, most of them would not make it in politics...”
by LucyLyon
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 5:43PM
“Clem_, woodtouch and mutton8,
I would love to see Humber Street develop further - and organically without corporate development. It has such fantastic potential and I think totally lends itself to markets, pop up shops, cafes etc. I do think the area's almost inevitable rise does mean that something needs to be done about the dual carriageway that cuts it off from the rest of the city centre.”
by mutton8
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 4:55PM
“Lucy - don't I know it! I lived in Silver St until 1939 and when I came back much later I tried to walk through to the pier to be suddenly faced with a massive dual carriageway. I was completely lost! You forgot to mention the joke shop in the arcade, it's still there! Remember the Argenta butchers opposite the King Billy statue and the New Holland ferries?”
by Clem_
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 4:48PM
“A land bridge is a good idea; essential, even. Also essential is retaining Humber Street as it is and not allowing a soulless corporate development to take place. I've said something like this before in previous comments and I stick by it. Leave Humber Street alone and let it develop organically over time.”
by gmdavison
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 4:47PM
“Yes it needs 3 bridges easy fixes get on with it.”
by woodtouch1
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 2:55PM
“To LucyLyon , You know this photo of Humber Street reminds me
of Whitefriargate around the forties and fifties before it's demise,
when everyone used to flock down Whitefriargate heading for the
Indoor Market and the outdoor market with a prize of Pattie and
Chips at Bob Carver's. When all those lovely stalls were in the
Outdoor Market selling Pots and Pans , Toys , Ornaments and Carpets
etc. Before Argos , The Bank and Multi story Carpark was built , when
the Car Park was on that waste ground on the opposite side of
Lowgate to B.Cooke & Son. When Woolworth's was the Shop having
everything no more than Sixpence - those long open polished wood
counters full of almost everything - The Pound Shops had nothing on
Woolworths ! When you could buy Meat ,Chickens , Fish and Veg.
at knock down prices late on a Saturday in the Market .
Just a few things that come to mind. Do you think things may
eventually come round in a circle then ?”