MAXIMUM CONCENTRATION WITH WM CONGESTION
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FROM the basement service area of the new Bull Ring Centre in Birmingham, goods are unloaded from traders' and hauliers' vehicles for distribution to the main market and shopping areas of the centre that can cater for as many as 40,000 visitors at one time. Up to 100 vehicles may he unloaded at the 35 bays in an hour, with an average turn-round time for each of less than 20 min. Although the benefit to the vehicle operator cannot he accurately assessed in comparison with deliveries to markets and shops of the same sales potential in a more conventional complex of premises, the direct saving in unloading time and the indirect savings derived from off-street loading in terms of reduced traffic congestion are advantages symptomatic of the aims of town planners in every industrial country throughout the world. It is, therefore, appropriate to deal briefly with the amenities of the centre, wh:ch was due to be officially opened today with some reference to its importance as an outstanding exercise in the replanning of large cities, before outlining the functions of the service area in detail.
Providing a floor space of nearly 23 acres, the centre covers an area of about 4+ acres and includes more than 100 shops, a retail market ivith 155 stalls, a fish market with 42 stalls, two supermarkets, two large department stores, a banqueting hall for 2,000 people, a car park for 520 vehicles and a bus station (see The Commercial Motor, November 8, 1963) operated by the Midland Red company. The main block is bounded by the south carriageway of the Ringway to the north and at a lower level by Edgbaston Street to the south, bridge sections of the centre extending over. the ring road on the west side to department stores and shopping areas and to a covered underground passageway in the north leading to the junction of High Street and New Street, in both cases the bridge area being occupied by a supermarket. To the east the centre is flanked by an open market, whilst the bus station is loci: in the west wing of the main buildings at the Edgbaston St level.
Apart from the advantages gained from the segregation pedestrians and vehicular traffic, the planned concentration shoppers and the off-street unloading of delivery vehicles, centre enables the city to cater for a substantial increase visiting shoppers with the minimum increase in conges1 by virtue of its strategic position relative to the ring road other road development works. Progress with the ring a and allied schemes should augment the importance of the eel with regard to access facility.
Built by John Laing Construction Ltd., and operated by Laing Development Co. Ltd., the centre was developed v the principle in mind of attracting shoppers with milk requirements, many of whom would satisfy their needs with leaving the centre. It is pertinent that the bus station planned by Midland Red to handle 20,000,000 passengers a year and that Aid. Dr. Louis Glass, Lord Mayor of Birmingham. referred to this aspect of the project when he officially opened the station on November 1 last year as a potentially important factor in fostering bus travel to the city.
According to a spokesman of the company, there is evidence at this early stage in the history of the centre that it is attracting all-day shoppers from other towns, notably from Worcester and Kidderminster to which there is a 20-min. service, travelling times being H. hr. and 1 hr. 20 min. respectively. The projected new town of Dawley should provide a substantial increase in regular shopping traffic in due course, and it is anticipated that on a long-term basis the Bull Ring will derive 90 per cent of its custom from the West Midlands, including 15 per cent from Coventry and district. and 10 per cent from more remote areas. The Midland Red spokesman also confirms that the location of the centre eases traffic flow and reduces bus delays.
Reverting to the movement of vehicles and the unloading of goods in the basement, vehicles enter the area from Edgbaston Street on the east side of the block by a ramp to .a twin lane service road, and all movements are " one-way " in a clockwise direction round the market service area in the centre, which has a mezzanine floor. All vehicles stop at the controller's office near the entrance to receive directions regarding distribution from the respective vehicle bays to one or more of the 150 retailers in the building and, if necessary, instructions on traffic co-ordination, the authority of the controller being absolute regarding all vehicle operations. The controller advises the respective retailer of the arrival of each delivery vehicle with the object of reducing delays to a minimum in arrangements for unloading. Four deputy traffic controllers are responsible to the controller-in-charge for sections of the area.
Supplied by Modern Telephones Ltd., two dial-type telephones are available in the controller's office and also a loud-speaking instrument,. so that the controller can make or receive two calls at the same time. Each deputy has the use of a dial telephone for calls to the controller and to retailers.
As shown on the artist's sketch of the service basement, the area is flanked on the south side by the underground stores of a line of shops with frontages in Edgbaston Street, and on the north by the fish market storage area and Woolworth's stockroom, the. loading bay of this company being at the east end near the access to the exit ramp. Goods and produce are distributed with the aid of eight self-operated lifts to the markets and shops at five higher levels, the controller being responsible for strictly disciplining all drivers and 'personnel, particularly with regard to time wasting and the temporary parking of waiting vehicles.
Whilst the majority of vehicles comprise local traders' vans delivering part loads from the Midlands area, full-loads and part-loads are received from London, Manchester and other distant centres in trunking lorries. Vehicles of any size can be accommodated but there is a height limitation of 14 ft. 9 in.
Distributing Loads In addition to the aforementioned line of shops with street frontages, the fish market, retail market and a Woolworth's sales floor are located at Edghaston Street level, on which the Midland Red bus station and an ancillary goods-loading bay are also situated, the latter being equipped with a lift for goods distribution to shopping areas at higher levels at the west end of the centre, including the supermarket on the bridge section and the departmental stores on the other side of the bridge. A second Woolworth's sales floor at the north-east corner at the centre court level is flanked by a line of shops, a departmental store and a Midland Red snack bar, and on the south side another snack bar, run by the bus company, adjoins a second line ot shops extending to the east end of the building.
A loading bay for small vans .is located near lifts on the lower floor of the multi-storey car park (which has an entrance a34
and exit on the south carriageway (Bell Street) ) and offers additional goods-intake facilities to shops on the north side at the upper Grand Parade level. At the car park level a small number of .shops and a departmental -store in the main block (at the bus station end) are separated from the larger departmental store and five shops on the west side by the dual carriageway ring road, which is fed with west-bound traffic from the south carriageway. Separate, direct-unloading facilities arc provided for the supermarket in the bridge section over this carriageway at the east end of the centre at Grand Parade level, at which the greatest concentration of shops (and a smaller departmental store) are found. On the west side of the ring road, a departmental store occupies virtually the whole area.
As mentioned earlier, a supermarket is located in the bridge over the ring road, the market being flanked at each end by a small shopping area. On the west side, there is direct access to the shopping mall from New Street railway station: The roof area is bounded by the banqueting hall on the west and the car park on the south-east, an eight-storey office block being situated at'the west side of the main building.
Ease of Movement An important aspect of the shop layout with regard to easy handling of goods. after they have been unloaded in the basement or ancillary bays is the provision of wide service corridors, behind the shops, 'which offer ample space in the lift-entrance areas. This is of indirect but valuable benefit to transport operators in that it obviates congestion in the movement of goods and refuse and thus aids the quick turn-round of the vehicles. All goods and materials are moved into and out of the shops from the rear.
Multiple refuse chutes in all the main shopping areas afford immediate and convenient disposal of waste materials to five special bays in the basement in which are located Powell Duffryn demountable Dempster Dumpster containers. A Container service is provided under contract by the City of Birmingham refuse department, utilizing Austin-based Dempster Durnpster vehicles with built-in, hydraulicallyoperated container-loading gear, full containers being replaced by empty containers at intervals dictated by the throughput of produce and goods.
The containers are of the totally-enclosed, drop-bottom universal type with a capacity of 12 Cu. yd., special features including over-set top lids (designed for receiving refuse from the chutes) and sump-type bases. These have a capacity equal to 10 per cent of the total volume and obviate the spillage of liquid residites when the vehicle is standing or is in transit.
Exchanging containers occupies a few minutes only and in line with the organization of visiting goods vehicles, the system offers a streamlined flow of materials with emphasis on the avoidance of vehicle delays and congestion.