News / Transport
Mayor commits to pedestrianising Old City
Bristol mayor George Ferguson has promised to pedestrianise the Old City during his second term if he is re-elected in May.
The mayor has spoken frequently of his desire to reduce the number of vehicles entering the whole city centre.
Under proposals previously put forward by pressure groups, Corn Street, St Stephen’s Street, St Nicholas Street and parts of Small Street and Broad Street would all be banned to traffic.
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Speaking about measures for reducing traffic, the mayor said he could not rule out a congestion charge, but added he will “absolutely” go ahead with pedestrianisation if he gets a second term.
Ferguson made the pledge on BBC Radio Bristol on Wednesday morning. He said: “I’m not going to bring in a congestion charge, not in the foreseeable future anyway. What we might do is make much more of the centre open and car-free.
“I think we will make the medieval city car-free. It’s a matter of timescale.”
Corn Street saw its pavements widened and pedestrian-friendly changes were made to St Stephen’s Street in the latter part of 2015. Living Heart for Bristol put forward proposals for pedestrianisation in the Old City which led to a council consultation in 2012.
But problems with access to Bristol Crown Court on Small Street stood in the way of plans. Speaking to the Bristol Post about the new wider pavements on Corn Street last year, Ferguson said: “While full pedestrianisation isn’t currently possible, largely because of the Courts’ insistence on two way access, this work is a great step towards making the Old City a more attractive place and allow it to live up to its potential to be a centre for tourism and trade.”