Paving the way

Richard Wyatt

It was all happening – workwise – in Queen Square today, where the existing concrete paving slabs are being ripped up.

A spokesperson for B&NES told me: ‘We are replacing the existing concrete flags in Queen Square for a natural York stone, and a ‘like for like’ replacement in Chapel Row to be consistent with the opposite side.

We anticipate this will take up to 15 weeks and the works will be carried out in three phases to minimise disruption.’

Looks like an overall improvement for this heritage site so let’s just bite our lip if involved in any traffic hold up – it’s going to look better for the disruption.

Published by Richard Wyatt

Freelance Journalist, broadcaster, columnist and local historian. Director of Bath Newseum. Married and lives in Bath. Interested in local history, architecture and visual display in museums and urban spaces.

4 Comments

  1. Perhaps some of the paving stones ripped up from Queens Square could be used to replace the awful tarmac in Laura Place?!

  2. … or indeed in Marlborough St, where there is also awful tarmac next to concrete paving by Georgian buildings.

  3. The council removed the York slab in Queen Square four years ago and now they’re putting them back. I wonder how much the two operations cost the council tax payer.

  4. I’m pleased to see they’re using natural stone in Queen Square (see https://bathnewseum.com/2023/03/14/pavement-politics/) but do wonder about the decision to use concrete slabs in the adjacent Chapel Row “to be consistent with the opposite side”. No doubt when they come to re-pave the other side they’ll again use concrete slabs “to be consistent with the opposite side”. Won’t this policy ensure that such footways are never improved beyond what already exists? And what about the carbon footprint of using concrete rather than stone? As I previously pointed out, Forest Pennant can be sourced from just 30 miles away and is one of the pennants recommended in the Bath Streetscape Manual.

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