News / St Mark's Road
Sweetmart promise to leave St Mark’s Road if street is pedestrianised
A bitter war of words has broken out over the future of a road in Easton that in 2019 was named the best street in the UK.
Bristol City Council wants to pedestrianise St Mark’s Road between Henrietta Street and Berwick Road.
The proposals are part of the council’s plans to allow better social distancing, especially in local shopping areas, and to encourage more people to travel by bike or walk.
is needed now More than ever
Those supporting the scheme say that that the plans would greatly benefit both businesses and the community by opening up St Mark’s Road for increased footfall, greater revenues and a more “liveable” neighbourhood less dominated by motorised traffic.
But those against the scheme, including the Bristol Association of Restaurants, Bars & Independent Establishments (BARBIE), who have started a petition to “save” the road, paint a pessimistic picture of the proposed pedestrianisation.
“Bristol Sweet Mart & Pak Butchers will not be able to work and will move,” says the petition.
“That would be the end of St Marks Road. The shops would become rented flats, and pedestrianised space would be useless.”
Plans are to pedestrianise a short section of St Mark’s Road from Henrietta Street to Berwick Road – photo by Martin Booth
Rob Bryher, who started a petition to create a liveable neighbourhood in St Mark’s Road says that businesses such as Sweetmart and Pak Butchers would still be able to receive deliveries, and pick-ups would still be possible even with the plans.
He said: “We do not want to see any of the great businesses on St Mark’s Road relocate and we believe they will ALL be stronger and better off if this change is implemented.”
Pak Butchers owner Abdul Malik, who is also chair of Easton Jamia Mosque, said that at first he thought the proposals were a joke.
He said: “Being someone who has lived in Easton all my life, someone who has run a business in St Mark’s Road for almost three decades, someone who has campaigned for the betterment of the area all my life, not just at election time and someone who has invested time, energy and resources in looking after St Mark’s Road, I find it profoundly disturbing that no one has had the courtesy of seeking to consult with myself or my fellow traders and residents.
“I am concerned that post Covid-19 we are having to discuss this scheme at this vulnerable point in our trading lives.”
Main photo and video by Martin Booth
Read more: St Mark’s Road named as the best street in the UK
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