Bristol Live readers have been sharing their thoughts on the contentious East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood trial. The initiative, which aims to decrease traffic on residential streets in St George, Redfield, and Barton Hill, has been met with both strong resistance and enthusiastic backing.
Council chiefs are hopeful that opposition to the liveable neighbourhood scheme in east Bristol will “will filter away” as the benefits become apparent. They cited other schemes in London that initially faced controversy but were later accepted, as well as the implementation of resident parking zones.
The East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood trial seeks to reduce traffic on residential streets in St George, Redfield, and Barton Hill using bollards, planters, and bus gates. Its installation has been partially obstructed by protestors, and the plans are deeply unpopular among some locals.
However, others living in the area support the scheme and have welcomed the measures already installed, such as those along Beaufort Road. Green Councillor Tony Dyer, leader of Bristol City Council, said people are naturally “suspicious of change”.
Muttsnuts comments: “This is just another example of Bristol City Council’s ongoing attempts to ban cars in Bristol. Bristol has a major congestion problem but instead of opening new roads and upgrading existing ones this bunch of hippy tree huggers want to close roads to traffic. How on earth is that helping?”
HanhamHeights replies: “Opening new roads is literally the opposite of what traffic research shows works. It’s called induced demand – more roads = more traffic. This is well-established transportation science, not hippy tree hugging. The trial website explicitly states you can still access EVERY part of the area by car – just not cut through residential streets. Main roads exist for through traffic; that’s literally what they’re designed for. The irony is that schemes like this actually reduce overall congestion once adjustment periods pass. The data from Waltham Forest, Lambeth and other cities proves it.”
Ezergood believes: “Pedestrians are taking back control of the streets.”
Mikeey12 adds: “The residents of Barton Hill do not want this so why as a council are they determined to ignore the residents who live there? Thankfully, they know that once it is installed it will not change altered or be removed. Brilliant action by Barton Hill residents keep up the protests, time to vote out the greens. We are council tax payers of Bristol and are entitled to travel around our city unhindered by these petty minded councillors who have just voted through another highest council tax increase while wasting untold thousands on this scheme nobody wants.”
Badger1966 feels: “All I get from this, is that’s it’s shoved on us with no regard for what people want. And the majority do not want it, simple as that. if the council listened to people in the first place, it would never have been installed. There is no democracy here. BCC are just doing what they want. And the money it’s costing could be far better spent.”
Paul-W says: “There has been two years of consultations on the proposals before they started to be implemented, and all the Councillors within the EBLN area supported the scheme before they were elected.”
Martymoo points out: “Living in Netham Road, instead of being allowed to drive along Avonvale Road and join Church Road into town. I will be pushed up Pile Marsh and to try to get out onto Blackswarth Rd. to then join a massive line of stationary vehicles waiting for the lights to change 4 times. Massive queues on Blackswarth Road and Chalks Road will only get worse. I feel sorry for those residents.”
6470 writes: “The people of Barton hill/Redfield has already said they don’t want it at all. So now the council are giving them bribes a £250 bus ticket, is not going to be any good at all, just makes the council look silly. Why a bus gate anyway, there only there to make money, as for Beaufort Road they could have made that that a one way street instead of putting all the traffic on to Church Road/Whitehall Road. Its not about pollution cars are the cleanest they have ever been even the fuel they run on is cleaner.”
So what are your thoughts on this scheme? Join in the conversation in the comments below or HERE.