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Dunstable High Street Guide

High Street, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU6 3HA

Access Guide

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Introduction

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    • Dunstable is a Market Town in Central Bedfordshire and is located on the A505.
    • Dunstable lies on the eastward tail spurs of the Chiltern Hills and is approximately 50 kilometres north of London.
    • High Street North is the A505 and High Street South is the A5183.
    • This guide covers the main shopping area of Dunstable.
    • The main shopping area runs from Priory House Heritage Centre (High Street South) to Grove House Gardens (High Street North).
    • This section is approximately 590m and takes approximately 7-9 minutes to walk.

Dunstable - Improvement Plans

  • Central Bedfordshire Council have plans for improvements to Dunstable.
  • The following short term projects should be carried out by the end of 2019.
  • They will remove railings and some other unnecessary street clutter from the High Street.
  • Mark the entrances to the High Street / Town Centre with four new gateway features.
  • The gateways will provide an inviting entrance to the Town Centre; help to define the Town Centre; and indicate to drivers and pedestrians that they are entering a pedestrian-friendly, High Street environment.
  • Three of these gateways will also incorporate drain features that will help take away rain water.
  • These gateway features will also include information about the history of Dunstable and have a map to show where places of interest are located like Priory Gardens and Grove House Gardens, Dunstable Town Council, Grove Skate Park, Dunstable Market, Priory Church, Grove Theatre, and the Quadrant Shopping Centre.

Getting Here

  • By car:
  • Dunstable is approximately 4 kilometres east of the M1 and is connected by the A505.
  • From the south, the A5183 leads directly into High Street North.
  • Parking:
  • There are several car parks within the town centre.
  • On-street parking is very limited.
  • 2 Blue Badge bays are located on the west side of High Street North.
  • By Bus:
  • There are bus stops located on both the east and west side of High Street North.
  • Routes to and from these bus stops include Milton Keynes, Leighton Buzzard, Bletchley, Luton and St Albans.
  • By Train:
  • The nearest major train station is Luton with trains from London St Pancras, Bedford, Brighton and Gatwick.
  • There is step free access to platform 4 only.
  • Taxis:
  • Taxi ranks are located on High Street North (west side), West Street and Vernon Place.

Parking - St Mary's Gate Car Park

  • St Mary's Gate car park is accessed via St May's Gate.
  • There is a height restriction barrier for the car park, with a height of 200cm.
  • This is a pay and display car park.
  • There is free parking for Blue Badge holders in designated spaces only.

Parking - Ashton Square Car Park

  • Ashton Square car park is accessed from West Street via St Mary's Gate.
  • The car park is pay and display.
  • There is not a Blue Badge scheme in operation at this car park.
  • Parking is not free for Blue Badge holders.
  • The nearest Blue Badge bays are located in St Mary's Gate car park.

Parking - Asda Car Park

  • Asda car park is accessed via Court Drive.
  • Parking charges apply in this car park.
  • There is free parking if your stay is for less than 60 minutes.
  • A maximum stay of 3 hours is in operation.
  • Blue Badge bays (370cm x 470cm) are available.
  • Parent and child spaces are located in the car park.
  • If you spend £5 or more in Asda and you obtain a voucher this will cover the cost of your parking.
  • There are no concessions for Blue Badge holders.

Priory House to Church Street

  • This covers the east side of High Street South from Priory House to Church Street.
  • This section is approximately 138m.
  • The width of the pathway ranges from 260cm to 350cm wide.
  • The road surface is tarmac.
  • An easy slope leads up from Priory Gardens to Church Street.
  • There are double yellow lines on this whole section of road.
  • Photograph 1 - Priory House Gardens.
  • Photograph 2 - The pathway is a mixture of paving slabs and block paving.
  • Photograph 3 - The pathway can be uneven in places.
  • Photograph 4 - A driveway with dropped kerb (no tactile paving) is adjacent to Penny's Fashions.
  • Photograph 5 - Near the junction of church Street. A temporary building works hoarding narrows the pathway to 130cm.
  • Photograph 6 - Junction of High Street South and Church Street.

Church Street Pedestrian Crossing

  • This pedestrian crossing joins High Street South and High Street North.
  • The crossing has push button controls, visual displays and audible signals.
  • All push button controls have a rotating cone at the base for visually impaired users.
  • There is tactile paving at each crossing point.
  • A central reservation links the crossing points.
  • The central reservation surface is tarmac.
  • The surface of the road is tarmac.

High Street North - Church Street to Grove House Gardens

  • This section covers the east side of High Street North from Church Street to Queensway.
  • The surface of the pathway is mainly paving slabs.
  • The width of the pathway ranges from 210cm to 260cm.
  • The surface of the road is tarmac.
  • Photograph 1 - A moderate slope leads down from Church Street towards the entrance to The Quadrant.
  • Photograph 2 - Bench seating without armrests is located outside 'Delight - Polish Shop' and next to the N3 Bus Stop.
  • Photograph 3 - Bus Stop N3.
  • Photograph 4 - Entrance to The Quadrant Shopping Centre.
  • Photograph 5 - Bench seating outside Carphone Warehouse.
  • Photographs 6 and 7 - Two driveways are along this section with a block paving surface.
  • Photograph 8 - Columns outside 'The Old Sugar Loaf' public house narrows the pathway to 120cm wide.
  • Photographs 9 and 10 - Queensway Pedestrian Crossing. This crossing point has tactile paving, visual display, audible signals and rotating cones.
  • Photograph 11 - Between Queensway and Grove House Gardens the pathway surface is 300cm wide and mainly paving slabs. There are raised flower beds outside Iceland and Argos.
  • Photograph 12 - Columns outside the entrance to Grove House narrows the pathway to 180cm wide.
  • Photograph 13 - The entrance to Grove House Gardens.

Bus Stop N3 - High Street North (East Side)

  • Bus Stop N3 is on the east side of High Street North.
  • The bus stop is located outside The Quadrant Shopping Centre.
  • The bus stop is sheltered and has perch seating.
  • There are no audible or visual displays at this bus stop.
  • Bus services are the 31, 34, 38, 40, 40A, 42, 43, 47, 74 and 771.
  • Buses go towards Luton and St Albans from this bus stop.

Dunstable Clock Tower to High Street North (West Side)

  • Dunstable Clock Tower is situated on the west side of High Street South.
  • The Clock Tower was built in 1999 and is opposite the entrance to Priory Gardens.
  • The footpaths are mainly paving slabs on this section.
  • Photograph 1 - Dunstable Clock Tower.
  • Photographs 2,3 and 4 - Bus Stops S1, S2 and S3 which are located near the Clock Tower. Buses from here go towards Luton, Bedford and Leighton Buzzard.
  • Photographs 5 and 6 - There is seating with armrests next to the Clock Tower.
  • Photograph 7 - A slight slope leads up towards West Street.
  • Photograph 8 - Temporary road work barriers narrow the pavement to 120cm.
  • Photographs 9 and 10 - The pedestrian crossing on West Street that links High Street South with High Street North. The crossing point has tactile paving, push button controls, rotating cones, visual and audio signals.

High Street North - West Street to Regents Street

  • This covers section between West Street and Regents Street.
  • There is a slope that leads down from West Street towards the bus stop which then levels out.
  • There is raised seating with 2 medium steps (12cm high) and a slope with no handrails in front of Marmaris restaurant.
  • Carrying on down the path there is additional seating and Bus stop N1 which is located in front of Household Estate Agents.
  • There are 4 parking bays outside Papa Johns.
  • There is a crossing on Albion Street and Manchester Place Street with dropped down kerbs and tactile paving.
  • Regent Street is located opposite the Grove House Garden entrance.

Bus Stop N1 - High Street North (West Side)

  • Bus stop N3 is on the west side of High Street North.
  • The bus stop is located in front of Household Estate Agents.
  • The bus stop is sheltered and has seating with armrests.
  • There is a visual display timetable at this bus stop.
  • A Dunstable information point is adjacent to the bus stop with a screen that is 150cm to 180cm high.
  • Bus services are the 70, 77, F70 and F77.
  • Buses go towards Bletchley, Milton Keynes and Leighton Buzzard from this bus stop.

High Street North Pedestrian Crossing Points

  • There are two crossing points on High Street North, joining the east side to the west side of the road.
  • Photographs 1, 2, 3 , 4 and 5 - The pedestrian crossing point from the east side (Delight - Polish Shop) to the west side (Santander). There are push button controls, tactile paving, rotating cones, and visual and audio signals at each crossing point. The centre reservation pathway is tarmac and 150cm wide.
  • Photographs 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 - The pedestrian crossing point from the east side ('The Old Sugar Loaf' public house) to the west side (Amici Coffee House). There are push button controls, tactile paving, rotating cones, and visual and audio signals at each crossing point. The centre reservation pathway is tarmac and 170cm wide.

Public Toilets

  • All the toilets listed below are open to the public.
  • Ashton Square Public Toilets - open from 08:30 - 17:30 Monday to Saturday.
  • Priory House Public Toilets - open from 10:00 - 18:00 Monday to Saturday.
  • Asda - open 07:00 - 23:00 Monday to Friday, 07:00 - 22:00 Saturday and 10:00 - 16:00 Sunday.

Access Guides Available For (Dunstable)