Pictured above: Neal Haywood of St. Modwen, Cllr Gwen Hotten
and Peter Husband, Vice Principle of Warwickshire College at the
official opening of Technology Drive
Technology Drive, the new spine road created by developer St.
Modwen leading to the £33million Warwickshire College Rugby
Centre has been officially opened by Deputy Mayor and Councillor
for Caldecott Ward, Gwen Hotten.
The road, which links Mill Road and Leicester Road in Rugby, was
opened on 11 November following the first Armistice Day two minute
silence held at the relocated British Thomson-Houston (BTH) war
memorial which sits adjacent to Technology Drive. St. Modwen
relocated the Grade 2 listed war memorial, dating back to 1921, in
July, giving it a more appropriate location on the former 82 acre
Alstom Industrial site which is now home to Warwickshire College
Rugby Centre and a proposed £120 million urban community.
Neal Haywood, construction manager for St. Modwen commented: "We
are delighted to have officially opened Technology Drive, a road
with a name that reflects its location adjacent to a very
innovative educational establishment and what we hope will progress
to become a vibrant new urban community. The road not only
serves the College but also provides an improved route between Mill
and Leicester roads, while facilitating easy public access to the
relocated war memorial.
"Opening the road on the 11 November was extremely fitting given
its proximity to the BTH war memorial. The St. Modwen team was
joined by staff and students from the college, members of the
community and ex-servicemen for the two minute silence at the war
memorial. The number and diversity of people paying their
respects was a clear demonstration of how highly valued the war
memorial is to the local community and Technology Drive clearly
provides a very important connection between Rugby's past and
future."
Mariane Cavalli, Principal and Chief Executive at Warwickshire
College said: "As an integral part of the Rugby Community we will
drive technology forward to develop people and businesses for the
future - so Technology Drive, an apt name indeed for the
road."
Opening the road Cllr Gwen Hotten said: "It gives me great
pleasure to open this road. It points the way towards a future for
Rugby and its students, a huge benefit for all."