THE RIVER GARDENS

The River Gardens will get a £400,000 makeover to bring back their family-friendly glory days. For more than 50 years, the gardens were a public attraction that drew in families and workers from the city centre for lunch or a stroll, but, in recent times, they have become shabby and a haven for criminals. Now, after completion of the nearby £100m Riverlights hotels, casino and retail development, the city council has decided it wants family picnics back in the park.

It has revealed it wants to improve street lighting, pavements, seating and possibly add public art in a bid to create an attractive riverside walk. It is also hoped the revamp will stimulate the area's night-time economy. The council's head of regeneration, Alan Smith, said, "Riverlights now acts as a transport hub and major gateway to the city centre, so we must improve the immediate surroundings. It is all part of encouraging high-quality tenants to the development."

David Osborne, director of Derby Riverlights Ltd, said the River Gardens revamp would be good for the area. He said, "We welcome any improvement to the River Gardens as it will continue the good work which we believe the Riverlights scheme has started. We have already agreed terms with a restaurant firm for approximately one third of the food and drink space remaining. That deal should be complete within the next six weeks. And, hopefully, the revamp will help bring customers to the site."

The changes have also been welcomed by Derbyshire police, as the area has been blighted by crime and anti-social behaviour, especially from drunks. Mr Smith said the authority wanted to bring back the days when "families could enjoy a picnic" there. He said they were currently "shabby and poorly used". Mr Smith said, "The scheme will create a high quality continuous link between Bass's Rec and Cathedral Green, forming a major corridor of improved public land."

Mr Smith said the scheme would include resurfacing of paths, new plants, new lighting and benches. It could also involve "creative lighting" underneath Exeter Bridge, public art and the trimming of trees and bushes to make the area more open and safe. He said the gardens would be given a modern facelift rather than returning to their look when they were first created in 1934.

The council still has to decide the exact details of the changes and a public consultation will take place but improvements should be complete by the "end of spring or early summer of 2012". The scheme will be paid for using £140,000 of cash given by city centre developers as part of planning agreements, and £107,000 from a Government grant. The rest would come from the council's capital budget, money it has for new buildings and repairs to existing ones.

Superintendent Gary Parkin, of Derbyshire police, said the River Gardens had problems with street drinkers and anti-social behaviour and that the changes could help. He said, "I would welcome any changes which would design out crime. Better lighting and less foliage would make the gardens less susceptible to crime but I would like the installation of more CCTV cameras to be considered, too." (Source: Derby Evening Telegraph, Mar/11)