Vehicle restrictions to stay on Milsom Street in Bath
BANES Council have confirmed the rules will stay in place after an evaluation of the experimental order put in place during the pandemic
Last updated 9th Jun 2024
Vehicle restrictions on Milsom Street in Bath are to stay.
Bath & North East Somerset Council have confirmed the news following a thorough evaluation of the scheme, which was introduced during the pandemic, and means no vehicles - other than buses - can travel down it between 10am and 6pm every day.
The experimental traffic order was introduced in 2021 to make the road a more pleasant environment for pedestrians and cyclists through the removal of motor traffic following a temporary restriction that brought in during 2020.
Back then, that was to help alleviate measures to do with social distancing.
After a thorough evaluation of the scheme, B&NES Council says a decision has been taken to make the restriction permanent.
This means no traffic - other than buses - can use the road up to the junction with Quiet Street between 10am and 6pm.
Councillor Manda Rigby, cabinet member for Transport, said: “We have been monitoring the temporary restriction since we introduced it in June 2020. We have spoken to and considered feedback from residents, businesses, bus operators and stakeholders, including Blue Badge holders, in order to weigh up views very carefully before making this decision.
“Without a doubt preventing vehicles other than buses along Milsom Street has made for a much more pleasant, less congested and much safer space. Feedback from the bus operators has been very positive and while it is not directly provable if the closure has had a direct impact, it is reassuring to see retail units are almost at full occupancy for the first time in two years.
“However, this decision also affects people with disabilities and deliveries. Due to changes in various roads in the city centre, we commissioned an independent accessibility study and listened to concerns. We have made several adjustments to assist people with limited mobility, as well as businesses and residents with their deliveries, which we believe balances the impact of the 10am-6pm restriction while keeping the benefits that a congestion-free Milsom Street has enjoyed.”
Some changes have been made to the restrictions, which include:
- Installing five additional Blue Badge parking bays in New Bond Street and two new blue badge parking bays on Quiet Street (taking the total number of spaces in this area from four to 11)
- Improving the pedestrian route between Broad Street car park and Milsom Street
- Allowing Dial-a-Ride Community Transport access to Milsom Street to drop off and pick up passengers during operating hours
- New ‘parklets’ installed which provides additional seating along the street
- Replacement street furniture with back rests and arm rests along the length of the street, including an additional bench at the top of Milsom Street
Councillor Rigby added: “Although it is no longer possible for vehicles to park or drop off/pick up passengers in Milsom Street between 10am and 6pm, we have provided additional Blue Badge parking bays less than 50 metres away in Quiet Street and approximately 70 metres away in New Bond Street. Using John Street and Quiet Street as an alternative access, it is still possible for a vehicle displaying a Blue Badge to drop off or pick up within 30 metres of the bottom of Milsom Street.”
The decision report says buses can now get through the first cycle of the traffic signals in New Bond Street and that not having vehicles manoeuvring in and out of parking spaces means they can easily pull into the bus stop and are not obstructed. Both of these factors reduce journey times and increase reliability of journey times.
The decision report states that since the Experimental TRO came into effect in November 2021 there has been specific growth in food and beverage businesses in the street, most of which have explored options for outdoor seating now that the street is a more pleasant environment.
You can find a map of Blue Badge parking spaces here.