News / Cheltenham Road
Crackdown promised on ‘disrespectful’ parking
Bristol’s cabinet member for transport has vowed to crack down on drivers parking on the pavement on Cheltenham Road.
Don Alexander has pledged that more traffic wardens will be sent to the area following the completion of alterations to the junction with Ashley Road that has already proved controversial.
Before Alexander tweeted his promise, Bristol24/7 watched for more than an hour as vehicle after vehicle was parked on the pavement at Cheltenham Road between Tesco and the Pipe & Slippers.
is needed now More than ever
After Alexander’s edict, however, one car parked on the pavement near Tesco had been given a parking ticket when Bristol24/7 returned just after 6pm.
Widening the pavement here was meant to make it safer for pedestrians, but Phil Jones, the joint author of Local Transport Note 1/20, the government approved national standard for cycle infrastructure design, has questioned the maintenance project.
He drew specific attention to paragraph 10.6.44, regarding advanced stop lanes: “ASLs should only be considered to meet the full accessibility needs of most people on a junction approach which meets the following criteria:
- traffic flows of less than 5,000 PCUs per day;
- there are no more than two traffic lanes;
- the approach is on green for no more than 30% of the cycle time; and
- there is a nearside protected route to the ASL that is of sufficient width to accommodate the cycle design vehicle.”
A plan of the works that have taken place at the Cheltenham Road and Ashley Road junction, which have included the controversial removal of a cycle lane – image: Bristol City Council
Alexander tweeted: “In the light of the continuing disrespect of some drivers for the parking restrictions on Cheltenham Road near our excellent new junction I have prioritised this area for extra visits from our Enforcement Officers. PCN’s will be issued immediately.”
The move was applauded but most people do not agree with Alexander’s assessment that the new junction is “excellent”.
Transport policy analyst, Adam Reynolds, tweeted: “It’s an exceptionally poor design that directly goes against the Sustainable Transport Hierarchy. @BristolCouncil Highways team is lacking in strong political leadership and lack of LTN 1/20 best practice training. CYCLOPS junction was easily achievable here.”
Town planner Pete Badger added: “Enforcement shouldn’t be the first line of defence. A scheme which doesn’t enable the pavement parking in the first place should be the starting point. Enforcement can (and probably will) be withdrawn and the issue will reoccur.”
Cars are regularly parked on the pavement on this short stretch of Cheltenham Road – photo: Martin Booth
Main photo: Martin Booth
Read more: ‘How can removing cycle lanes ever be justified?’
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