Second liveable neighbourhood paused after opposition to east Bristol plan

Plans for a second liveable neighbourhood in Bristol have been paused after “strong opposition” to a new trial in the east of the city.

The mayor said Bristol City Council was learning from the first trial “before rushing” to roll another one out in Bedminster and Southville.

The East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood trial is due to launch this winter in Barton Hill and St George.

Many side roads will be closed off to through-traffic with bollards and planters, in a bid to make the area safer for walking and cycling by reducing speeding and air pollution.

But so far the trial has faced some opposition. Earlier in July about 200 people gathered to hear concerns about the plans, and now Marvin Rees has said the council will focus on this trial before moving onto a second one.

The meeting was organised by members of Bristol Somali Community Association, Barton Hill Activity Club, and Keep Bristol Moving – photo: Mia Vines Booth

The mayor was asked in a full council meeting earlier in July by Labour councillor Mark Bradshaw, representing Bedminster, for an update on the plans for south Bristol.

In a written statement, Rees replied that some councils elsewhere have withdrawn similar schemes.

Rees said: “We will look to trial two liveable neighbourhoods. We’ve also made it clear that we will start with the trial in St George and Barton Hill, and will ensure we take all the learnings from that scheme before rushing to another scheme.

“You will have noticed in the local media recently strong opposition from members of the community to the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood, and there are councils that have implemented and withdrawn the schemes.”

Labour promised at least two liveable neighbourhood pilots in their manifesto ahead of the local elections in 2021.

But with nine months to go before the next election, when the party could potentially lose power, so far only the trial in east Bristol is about to be launched.

Rees added: “We will ensure that we bring communities with us in making these improvements and ward councillors will be asked to lead the engagement and design. However, officer time is currently fully resourced in rolling out the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood, and this remains our priority.”

Some residents living in St George said plans for a new liveable neighbourhood could cut frequent speeding and car crashes near their homes – photo: Alex Seabrook

Government funding for future low traffic neighbourhoods was also thrown into doubt, after the Conservatives narrowly beat Labour in a by-election in Uxbridge and South Ruislip last week, in a race focused around a planned expansion of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone. Ministers are now reportedly ditching support for similar plans, such as liveable neighbourhoods.

Concerns about the east Bristol trial include the potential for increased congestion on nearby main routes like Church Road, delays to emergency services, and the perception among some residents of a lack of public consultation.

Other residents however, like on Beaufort Road in St George, have spoken in favour of the plans, due to long-standing concerns over road safety.

Alex Seabrook is a local democracy reporter for Bristol

Read next:

• Residents of major rat-run show support for liveable neighbourhood plans
• Dozens join anti-liveable neighbourhood meeting in Bristol
• Transport expert says closing off east Bristol roads ‘just scratching the surface’

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