Radical changes to Bristol’s Park Street could “boost the local economy”, with work on a £15.5 million revamp set to begin this October. The plans include removing traffic from the busy shopping street and making pavements wider, as part of Bristol City Council ’s wider efforts to reduce congestion.
The changes include stopping cars from driving through Park Street to speed up bus journeys, as well as widening the pavement and making cycling safer. Cars would still be able to access the shopping street, but only by using side roads instead. A statutory consultation will be held this summer.
Cafes will also get more space for outdoor tables. Some parking spaces will be removed from Park Street, although the large Trenchard Street car park is only a five-minute walk away. The project is expected to cost £15.5 million to build, funded by the Department for Transport, and stretches up around the Triangle, from the Victoria Rooms and down to College Green.
If approved, work would start on site this October, and would be completed by March 2027. The council will soon submit a full business case to the West of England Combined Authority, according to a report to the transport policy committee. The transport committee meets on Thursday, March 20, and will discuss the latest plans, as well as other major traffic changes.
Speaking during a full council meeting on Tuesday, March 11, one Park Street cafe owner claimed that “most Bristolians” oppose the changes. However, a public consultation on similar plans held three years ago revealed a split in public opinion, with 45 per cent strongly agreeing with the plans and 49 per cent strongly opposed to them.
Michael Potts, of Mrs Potts Chocolate House, said: “I represent a group of traders who are concerned about the bus gate proposal. Most Bristolians are opposed to the idea, this is based on responses from Facebook, Bristol Live, and a survey conducted by Bristol BID.
“Evidence suggests that removing traffic from the high street will have a devastating consequence. We believe that the money can be better spent for a number of things the council has cut the funds for.”
Green Councillor Ed Plowden, chairman of the transport policy committee, said the changes would boost the local economy, partly as the wider pavements could lead to greater footfall. He also compared the plans to getting rid of traffic from Broadmead and Queen Square many years ago.
He added: “When Broadmead was pedestrianised, turnover went up by 17 per cent in one year. Queen Square used to have 20,000 cars a day. There was an outcry about how this was going to ruin the city. But actually I don’t think many people would want to put it back. It’s people that visit shops, not cars.”
Analysis suggests the scheme will generate £7.60 for the local economy for every £1 spent. Cllr Plowden also claimed that the changes will lead to “400 extra jobs”.
He admitted that car journeys would become longer, but added that buses would travel quicker. Park Street is a key section of the city’s public transport network, with buses sometimes held up in congestion and standing traffic.
Congestion is a problem across many parts of Bristol, partly as the city grows with more people working and living here. According to council figures, 53 per cent of people commuted by car in 2019. This needs to reduce to 43 per cent by 2036, just to maintain traffic at its current level.
Cllr Plowden said: “We’re seeing congestion costing our bus services more and more. It’s really important that we get on top of congestion, which is costing our economy. One of the best ways of doing that is encouraging people to get onto the bus.”