News / Chocolate Path
Access to Chocolate Path still blocked from Vauxhall Bridge
Almost a week after it was reopened after being closed for six years, access to the Chocolate Path is still blocked from Vauxhall Bridge.
A locked metal gate prevents pedestrians from reaching the sweetly-named thoroughfare.
It means that the only two access points to the path next to the New Cut are from near Brunel’s Buttery at one end and close to Ashton Avenue Bridge at the other.
is needed now More than ever
A tantalising view of the inaccessible Chocolate Path from Vauxhall Bridge – photo: Martin Booth
A local councillor has suggested that the lack of access from Vauxhall Bridge “is a clear and severe health and safety risk” that may even present a legal risk to the city council.
Hotwells & Harbourside councillor, Patrick McAllister, also slammed the “unsatisfactory” repairs to the Chocolate Path, which was closed in December 2017 with part of it collapsing into the New Cut in early 2020.
“I am very happy that the Chocolate Path is now reopened,” said McAlllister in a member forum statement to the most recent full council meeting.
“It is a much-loved amenity to Spike Island and was greatly missed during the time that it was closed.
“It forms an integral part of Bristol’s segregated active infrastructure, provides some of the best views and walks in the city, and has an important role to play in connecting Spike Island up given the recent implementation of the Cumberland Road bus gate and future plans for Western Harbour.”
The Green Party councillor added: “Happiness at the reopening was unfortunately tempered by the unsatisfactory nature of the works.
“On a cursory walk down the path I encountered broken paving, cracked brickwork, sections of unpainted fencing – particularly ironic given the final delay to the reopening was supposedly to finish the paintwork – and areas where the new paint had been allowed to stain the concrete.
“Most worryingly, the temporary fence and gate structure blocking access between Vauxhall Bridge and the path was still in place at the time of submitting this statement, inconveniencing travellers and prompting some people to attempt to climb around it.
“This is a clear and severe health and safety risk that may present a legal risk to the Council given the absence of signage.
“Given the vast amount of money that was spent on bringing the Chocolate Path back into public use, it is an awful shame that this asset has not been restored to the quality that earned it the city’s love in the first place.
“I call upon the administration to undertake a full inspection of the path and investigate where in the organisational chain of command things went wrong.”
Bristol City Council declined to comment.
Main photo & video: Martin Booth
Read next:
- Chocolate Path reopens after being closed for six years
- Tides blamed for latest delays to Chocolate Path repairs
- New plans for new bridge across New Cut
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