‘East Bristol is in dire need of help to make our roads safer’

Despite what you have might have read in a recent article in Bristol24/7, I’d like to let you know that the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood scheme has plenty of fans in the area and I count myself as one of them.

The area is in dire need of help to make roads safer. Not just for drivers and passengers in motor vehicles but also the large number of residents, workers and visitors who travel in and through Redfield, St George and Barton Hill as pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchair and mobility scooter users, among others.

Moving through-traffic away from residential streets and back on to the main roads that were designed to handle larger volumes and higher speeds will make it much safer for families here, both in terms of reducing collisions and in improved air quality, particularly around the predominantly residential streets and schools in the area.

I’ve engaged with the scheme outreach at every stage so far and have found it very well handled.

While that definitely won’t be everyone’s experience and more can always be done I find it strange that Keep Bristol Moving campaigner Chris Johnson calls the council’s consultations “inadequate” only to also state that the council making changes to the scheme in response to residents’ feedback is “totally unacceptable” and indicates a lack of faith in the scheme.

I see this completely differently. I’m very glad that the council has listened to residents’ concerns, going so far as to postpone the introduction of the first phase of the scheme in order to hold more meetings, reach out to more people and gather more feedback on their plans. This can only be considered a good thing.

The article mentions some of these changes, directly caused by the consultation and should be counted as a triumph of the process.

Now the updated trial scheme removes fewer parking spaces, alleviating the concerns of residents who rely on cars; reduces the number of ‘cells’ to make travelling by motor vehicle within the scheme easier, particularly in Barton Hill and the western side of the neighbourhood area; includes many exemptions for the scheme’s bus gates along the route of the 36 bus.

This does a lot to alleviate the concerns I had about emergency services and those relying on taxis and care workers to navigate the area easily; plus a few other small but important changes to reflect the valid concerns of people in the area.

The proposed East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood covers parts of Barton Hill, Redfield and St George – map: Bristol City Council

Similarly, while I understand the opposition to any such change, I can’t agree with Megs Smith, also quoted in the article by Alex Seabrook.

I consent to the scheme. I want it to go ahead and I think it will be a great success.

I live on Church Road and I understand that it will get busier, at least in the short term, but characterising the A420 as a “rat-run” doesn’t make sense, it’s the road designed to take traffic between neighbourhoods and, as such, is the only suitable option.

Megs’ (possibly rhetorical) questions about the scheme are answered in the information posted through letterboxes in the scheme area and available online.

The first phase is indeed a trial, there will be a chance for evidence gathering and feedback before the second phase of the scheme is finalised.

While the closing quote given by Chris Johnson is certainly catchy, none of it really relates to the scheme.

No roads are being closed, as the article states: “Access to all properties will be kept, but drivers might have to take alternative routes.”

Roads are very much still a good idea. They just need to be safe and suitable for the 21st century.

This is an opinion piece by Luke Hall, a data analyst who lives on Church Road and enjoys running and cycling around Bristol

Main photo: Martin Booth

Read next:

• Campaigners claim council ‘watering down’ liveable neighbourhood consultation
• Protesters call for safer streets for cyclists and pedestrians
• East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood trial could still start before end of 2023

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