News / Park Street
Opposition councillors criticise plans to close Park Street to cars
An opposition group leader has criticised the mayor of Bristol’s plans to shut Park Street to private cars.
Conservative councillor Mark Weston has tabled a motion to full council expressing disappointment over the “potentially damaging transport proposals” announced in Marvin Rees’ annual State of the City address in October.
The Henbury & Brentry ward member says restricting vehicle access to the city centre will harm both passing trade and Broadmead.
is needed now More than ever
Weston has also accused Rees of trying to “provoke a hostile political reaction” instead of fostering cooperation by the way he is unveiling controversial policies.
In his speech at the Wills Memorial Building, Rees unexpectedly announced that Park Street had been earmarked for closure to through traffic and that the public would be asked for their views on this idea and wider measures along the number two bus route.
Rees said that proposals are “to remove parking that causes congestion on key routes and the closure of Park Street to private cars”.
He said: “This has the potential to reinvent public realm up to the Triangle and remove rat-runs from the Downs.”
Park Street during the first lockdown in April 2020 – photo: Simon Holliday
Speaking on Monday, Weston said: “Sadly, the radical transport proposals outlined by the mayor in his recent annual address filled me with foreboding.
“The idea of closing off Park Street to private vehicles not only removes passing trade from dependent businesses along that route, it further harms Broadmead.
“In addition, as things stand, this change would disproportionately impact upon or disadvantage the elderly, infirm and disabled who often cannot use public transport.
“Similarly, whilst well-intentioned, the planned bus prioritisation schemes along the A4018 are likely to act as a strong disincentive for many people to travel into Bristol for shopping when they have the convenience of plenty of free parking and an attractive retail offering at The Mall.”
Weston said that he will “be urging the mayor to genuinely try to modify his reimagining of the public realm in the wake of the public consultation responses this generates”.
The Conservative group leader’s motion has been submitted to a full council meeting of Bristol City Council on Tuesday evening but is unlikely to be heard because of time constraints.
The mayor’s office has been contacted for comment.
Main photo: Felix Workman
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