The Centre (Bristol)
| The Centre | |
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The Centre, Bristol
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 The Centre
 The Centre shown within Bristol |
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| OS grid reference | ST586730 |
| Coordinates | 51°27′14″N 2°35′50″W / 51.4540°N 2.5972°WCoordinates: 51°27′14″N 2°35′50″W / 51.4540°N 2.5972°W |
The Centre is a partially pedestrianised public open space in the central area of Bristol, England, created by covering over the River Frome. The northern end of The Centre is a paved area circuited by Colston Avenue; the southern end is separated from this by a major road junction and is a larger paved area bounded by St Augustine's Parade to the west, Broad Quay the east, and St Augustine's Reach (part of the Floating Harbour) to the south. The Centre is managed by Bristol City Council.
The name 'The Centre' (or 'The City Centre') appears to have been applied to the area from the mid-twentieth century; in the first half of the twentieth century it was known as the Tramways Centre, and before the Tramways Centre island was built it was known as 'The Drawbridge'.
The Centre is not the historic or civic centre of Bristol, nor is it the major shopping area. It is however an important local transport interchange and meeting place. Many local bus services terminate at or pass through here, and it is also served by ferry services to Hotwells and Temple Meads station, and has busy taxi ranks.
The Centre has been altered on a number of occasions, originally to ease traffic flow but latterly to try to strike a balance between its use as both public open space and an important traffic corridor. In 2017 alterations to accommodate the MetroBus bus rapid transit scheme were completed.
The Centre owes its form to the channel dug in the 1240s to provide additional quays and wharves for the burgeoning Bristol Docks.
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Wikipedia