VISIONS of turning a busy road in St Paul's into a landscaped paradise were put on display for residents yesterday.
Students from the University of Gloucestershire have been working on regenerating Marle Hill Parade as part of their design and community module.
The second year landscape architecture undergraduates have spent the last few weeks knocking on doors to get feedback from neighbours.
And they set up stall at an empty shop on the corner of Marle Hill Parade and Dunalley Parade to reveal the fruits of their labour. The project was based on the idea of shared space in the area, focusing on Marle Hill Parade.
Scott Farlow, tutor of the programme at the university, said: "We have been working with St Paul's Presidents Association and the university to run this module and explore how we might develop Marle Hill Parade.
"The street has a lot of character and history, and a strong connection with nearby Pittville Park and the town centre.
"It's useful to know this project hasn't happened because of one individual, but the collective will of different organisations such as the university and residents' association.
"It was quite an experience. With St Paul's, people think there might be problems, but there are problems everywhere."
Student Charlie Collins, 22, said: "You can see a divide between residents and students living in this area, but I want to be a part of the community.
"It is a module for our course, and we knocked door-to-door to find out what people like or didn't like about their street. It has been really interesting."
Student Ben Poulter, 21, said: "It is all about getting involved in the community and it presented a window of opportunity to get involved in it all.
"The fact was that we managed to work with people, and understand what they might want."
