‘Yes, let’s close Prince St Bridge to cars’

I’ve lived in Southville for 26 years and worked in the city centre for almost all of that time. It means I have crossed Prince St Bridge literally thousands of times, both in its ‘both lanes open to cars’ incarnation, the ‘one lane open’ version, and the current temporary bridge version.

I remember my predecessor as councillor (Matthew Symonds) running a petition in 2006 to try and get it closed to through traffic, and a counter-petition from current Tory councillor Richard Eddy.

So, I’m extremely happy to support the current campaign and petition.

I remember speaking to a full council meeting in 2006 (or thereabouts) to try and get half the road closed. Not a brilliant solution but something at least. The pavements over the bridge are clearly too narrow for pedestrians.

More recently, Greens canvassed the opinion of bridge users over whether it should be open or closed. Two-thirds supported closure. (We didn’t ask the motorists, mind.)

The problem now is the way cyclists and pedestrians interact. I thought at one stage there was a line down the middle of the pedestrianised bit pushing cyclists down one side, and pedestrians down the other. But not any more.

The problem now is the sheer volume of each group using the bridge – especially in peak hours. Most times of day or evening, you will see people using the bridge.

So there are two basic reasons for me to support this campaign:

1. Support local residents
Gaol Ferry Bridge and Prince Street Bridge are the major walking and cycling route fors people in Southville, Bedminster and Ashton to the city centre. Thousands of residents use each of them each day.

As one of the local councillors for Southville ward, I’d be doing these people a disservice by not trying to promote their interests.

2. It’s the environment, stupid
People say that as Greens, we are anti-car. It isn’t true to the extent they claim, but I for one do believe we need to shift our transport system to something which is much more sustainable. That means encouraging cycling and walking over cars. Not always, but definitely on key routes. 

This bridge doesn’t work very well for motorists anyway. It is too narrow, and too slow. By making it pedestrian and cycling only, you can benefit both of these groups. You can have a good route for both into town. You could also make the area around it a space which works better for all.

I could go back over all the arguments we have been making for years. More road space equals more cars. The M25 opened as a car park. The Newbury bypass was a bypass to a bypass. The ring road doesn’t take traffic to an area; it takes it through an area. The air pollution, the deaths and the contribution to climate change.

But that is for another day.

For now, lets take this opportunity to celebrate this already vital cycling and walking route and work to make it even better. If you support this campaign, please sign the petition here.

Charlie Bolton is leader of the Green Group on Bristol Council and a councillor for Southville ward.

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