Jubilee Library, Jubilee Street

Image: © Simon Carey Taken: 1 Sep 2006

Head south down North Place then follow the paths around the swimming pool and turn west into this new square. Something that won't be found on an OS Map is the city's new purpose built library that finally opened in 2005 and has been a big success ever since it moved back from a tower block a mile to the north of the centre. The library is part of the Jubilee Street development that has finally after 30 years of wrangling filled the space between Church Street and North Road that was an eyesore. The original Jubilee Street was filled with small houses and workshops that had been gradually cleared from the 1950s until the last buildings came down in 1977. The area then became a car park as the Council and developers argued what to do with the site. Finally an agreement was reached in 2001 and most of the street has been rebuilt with the exception of a site opposite the library which is earmarked for a hotel. There is some concern that the shops that have opened in the street (including a Tesco Express and Starbucks) are trying to muscle their way into the independent shopping experience of this area as by doing so they put the rents up for other shops. However, a quick glance reveals that Gardner Street which runs parallel with Jubilee Street is still more popular. Click on the link to take you to the next page. http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/231199

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