Theatre District MK up for a re-vamp

The Theatre District

The Theatre District in central Milton Keynes has a pretty good selection of restaurants, and of course the theatre, but in recent years it has become something of a ghost town, not picking up the same amount of interest as many other areas of the city.

With the large number of restaurants and attractions in Milton Keynes, there is a huge choice for people when choosing where to eat or drink, particularly among the chain restaurants which are at the Theatre District as well as many other areas in Milton Keynes, including the shopping centre, Xscape, Kingston and now the new MK Stadium restaurant area. With so much of the same, there needs to be something more than just the food attracting visitors, and this is where the Theatre District has been struggling a bit lately, often seeming very quiet and dead, particularly during the day.

However, all this is set to change, with a whopping £20million development plan which was granted just this week. The plan is set to create over 100 jobs, and will be completed in late 2016. The plan includes building a Premier Inn hotel with 130 rooms, as well as 234 square metres of retail and 994 square metres of leisure, which is likely to include restaurants and bars.

Jonathan Manns, Colliers International Planning Director who advised on the development, says: "In rejuvenating and expanding the Theatre District these plans also improve the wider public realm and enhance links to existing shopping facilities..."

Jack Paravicini of Bursha Holdings commented: "We're keen to create a 'family friendly' area with a vibrant daytime and evening economy that increases footfall and supports the adjacent gallery and theatre."

With a bit of work (£20 million worth!) it's hoped that the Theatre District will be back in the runnings in competing with Milton Keynes' other leisure areas. The building of a Premier Inn hotel in such a central location is sure to be hugely popular, and the surrounding restaurants and bars will be sure to benefit as a result of the customers it will attract.

On top of all this, intu Milton Keynes has also just announced a new development, a major face-lift which will feature a five-screen boutique cinema, new shops and green spaces. The development could cost up to £70 million, and would be the most significant development the city centre has seen in over a decade. Pictures and information about the proposal are on display until 22nd March.

Proposal for intu Milton Keynes development

How do you feel about all this development? In a time where landmarks such as the Point are being demolished, is it right that money is being put into expanding and re-doing the already more modern areas?

Try Wheelchair Rugby, aka 'Murderball'

Wheelchair Rugby is a Paralympic sport, and is played competitively in over 25 countries around the world. The game was first developed in Canada, where it was known as 'murderball', due its aggressive and full-contact nature.

The governing body Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby, have teamed up with Milton Keynes and Stantonbury Arts and Leisure Centre to bring the sport to the town. Unlike wheelchair basketball, which has always been the most popular team sport for wheelchair users, wheelchair rugby allows for full-contact. It is one of the only full-contact disability sports, and was one of the most popular at the Paralympic Games in 2012.

Wheelchair rugby is played inside, on a court with the same measurements as a basketball court. It is a mixed-gender sport, and teams can have up to 12 players, although no more than four from each team can be on the court at any one time. Players score by carrying the ball across the goal line.

If you have a disability and are over 16 years old, there is the opportunity to try this sport in one of four upcoming taster sessions. The sessions will be held at Stantonbury Leisure centre from 1-3pm, and are run by experienced coaches, with rugby chairs provided.

The first session will run on Saturday 31st January, then Sunday 15th February, Thursday 28th February and Sunday 8th March.

B & MK Waterway Trust

The waterways have been a key feature to Milton Keynes and the surrounding areas over the years, providing important navigational arteries through which goods and people have travelled. The roots of the Bedford-Milton Keynes Canal go back over 200 years to October 1811, when a group of Bedford businessmen met with the Mayor of Bedford to discuss the linking benefits.

Nearly 200 years on, in 1994, Bedford resident Brian Young had the idea of getting the canal built as part of the new millennium celebrations. The idea was to have a 'waterway for all' which could improve the quality of the local environment, serving the new industries of leisure, tourism and communications. The B & MK (Bedford and Milton Keynes) Waterway Trust was established in 1995 to promote the development of this broad waterway linking the Grand Union Canal in Milton Keynes to the river Great Ouse in Bedford.

The waterway is set to be a 20 mile link between the River Great Ouse at Kempston in Bedford and Grand Union Canal at Newlands in Milton Keynes. It's a long process set to take up to 20 years, but the first steps are underway.

The new canal route would provide a range of social and economic benefits...

• Recreation: on water and off water activities, including boating
• Green infrastructure- Creation of natural corridors and environmental benefits 
• Regeneration and property- attractive waterfront, appealing to local housing
• Ecosystem services- help in controlling flooding
• Transport- particularly for freight movements
• Tourism- contributing to increase in visitors to the area

Do you like the idea of linking the Grand Union Canal to Bedford? Tell us your views, we'd love to hear what you think! 

For more information, visit the Trust's website.