Liveable neighbourhood scheme 'lacks support'

A project to reduce traffic in several city neighbourhoods is to be reconsidered, after a survey suggested the plans were "not broadly supported".

The South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood scheme aims to encourage people to walk, cycle and use wheelchairs for shorter journeys, and improve air quality.

Two million pounds is being spent on designing the scheme, but a consultation revealed that in some neighbourhoods more than 70% of residents were against the proposals.

Councillor Ed Plowden, chair of the transport and connectivity committee at Bristol City Council, said the feedback provided an "invaluable local steer", and plans will be now be "simplified".

More than 4,500 people responded to the council survey regarding the plans.

Only half of them agreed with the principle of reducing speeds and volume of traffic on residential streets.

In Southville and Totterdown, 71% and 62% of residents respectively were opposed to the specific measures that had been proposed for their neighbourhood.

Plowden said: "We are responding by simplifying plans for Totterdown and Southville. This includes removing some of the proposed one-way streets and measures that prevent through‑traffic while maintaining access for pedestrians and cyclists."

The council has previously claimed that "high numbers" of vehicles cut through the area on their way to other destinations.

But data gathered by engineering consultants Arup, says "through-traffic does not appear to make up a large proportion of all traffic".

In Southville, 10-13% of traffic is estimated to be cutting-through, though the analysis acknowledges this is an "upper estimate".

Resident Matt Sanders said the council had been "trying to force through an expensive traffic solution to a problem that may not exist".

And Labour MP Karin Smyth told BBC Politics West it was "a scheme in search of a problem".

People also raised concerns about the knock-on impact road blocks could have on North Street, where a cyclist died earlier this year.

The council will now develop plans to change the layout of some of North Street's junctions and improve the line of sight for all road users.

"We are bringing forward early work to make it safer and easier for people to enjoy all that North Street has to offer, while developing longer-term plans to address road safety issues," Plowden said.

A £700,000 programme of tree planting is due to go ahead in Southville and along North Street in the winter.

A similar project in the east of the city has also led to protest demonstrations, but remains in place.

Local resident Matthew Symonds has previously urged the council to go ahead with the South Bristol liveable neighbourhood.

"We need to address the issue that we live in a neighbourhood that was built in the 1880s, before cars were involved," he said.

Green Party councillor Tim Wye told BBC Politics West the plans are "not just about today, it's about the future needs of the city".

New plans will be shared in the coming months prior to a vote by the council's transport committee in the autumn on whether to go ahead.

If approved, West of England mayor Helen Godwin must decide whether to pay for it using allocated funds by the government under its City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement, which has to be spent by March 2027.

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