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Traffic could be diverted to allow pedestrianisation in Kingswood town centre
Traffic could be diverted around Kingswood town centre if plans to pedestrianise part of it go ahead.
South Gloucestershire Council says it remains “fully committed” to the pedestrianisation of Regent Street as it prepares to launch a formal public consultation on its masterplan to rejuvenate the town’s High Street.
Pedestrianisation, a new public space for events like markets, and the transformation of the derelict Whitfield Tabernacle into a “performance arts centre and cultural cinema” were among the plans that won the council £12.5m from the government’s Future High Streets Fund last year.
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The council says it is “urgently” revising the business case options at the request of the government and is exploring alternative sources for match-funding to pay for the proposed changes.
“We are urgently considering these options in January and are preparing to launch a formal consultation in respect of the masterplan,” a spokesman said.
“We currently remain fully committed to seeking to deliver:
- a significant commercial investment (which is subject to commercial confidentiality and formal cabinet decision)
- the pedestrianisation of Regent Street and investment in public realm
- the restoration of the Whitfield Tabernacle to provide a cultural and community venue.”
The section of Regent Street by Kings Chase Shopping Centre would be pedestrianised under the plans – photo by Ellie Pipe
Residents were presented with two options for the diversion of traffic around part of Regent Street in a survey about the proposals last year.
In the first, eastbound traffic was diverted to the north via Kimberley Road, Gilbert Road and Park Road.
In the second, eastbound traffic was diverted south via Blackhorse Road and Cecil Road.
The proposed diversions to allow pedestrianisation of part of Regent Street in Kingswood. Image: South Gloucestershire Council 2020 Future High Streets Fund
Overall, 67 per cent of the nearly 600 residents who responded to the survey supported the idea of pedestrianising part of Regent Street, according to a council report on the findings.
But residents did not express a strong preference for either route for diverting traffic, with half saying both options were equally acceptable or that they didn’t know which they preferred. Each route was preferred by 16 per cent of respondents.
Those who preferred the northern diversion said it would prevent traffic becoming even worse. Those in favour of the southern diversion said the roads were more suitable and the area was less residential.
Residents were also asked whether they thought buses should still go through the pedestrianised part of Regent Street or be diverted south through Morovian Road, with a priority bus lane along Cecil Road.
Some 28 per cent said they preferred buses to be diverted versus 20 per cent who wanted them to go through Regent Street.
For the council’s part, it saw the southern diversion route as bringing more challenges, such as a need for “significant road widening and junction improvements”.
Overall, 67 per cent of the nearly 600 residents who responded to the survey supported the idea of pedestrianising part of Regent Street, according to a council report on the findings. Image: South Gloucestershire Council
The council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service on Tuesday, January 5 it could not provide a timeline for the High Street project because of the funding issues.
However, a spokesperson said works were about to start to stabilise and provide a new roof for the Grade I-listed Tabernacle, and that it should be safe enough to reopen to the public by November.
“The funding considerations we need to explore over the coming weeks and months alongside this significant injection from the Government will impact on the timetables of each project and we cannot therefore provide clarity at this stage, except to say that we expect phase one of the commercial investment to be complete within six months and the Tabernacle is poised to see first phase works commence very shortly,” the spokesperson said.
Amanda Cameron is a local democracy reporter for Bristol.
Main photo by Ellie Pipe
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