"Concern" as dozens of businesses object to Clifton pedestrianisation
Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees says he can't rule out reversing the change to Princess Victoria Street
Last updated 26th Nov 2021
It is a "concern" that around 100 businesses in Clifton Village are being negatively impacted by pedestrianisation.
That's what Bristol's Mayor Marvin Rees has told us after businesses around Princess Victoria Street wrote an open letter to residents, urging them to oppose a ban on cars.
Part of the road has been closed to vehicles since the summer as part of a trial of new measures to improve air quality and encourage more sustainable travel.
For some the change has been hugely popular, but many businesses have been against it from the beginning.
"Apart from the food and drink outlets in PV (Princess Victoria) Street which appear to be buzzing, the rest of the village is much quieter," the letter reads.
"The traffic experiment has achieved its goal of stopping traffic, but it has also driven a large volume of customers to shop elsewhere.
"This has had a substantial and negative impact on a great number of traders, both large and small, from every corner of the village."
Under the scheme, part of the road is closed every day from 11am to 5pm, including on weekends.
When the pedestrianisation was announced Bristol City Council said it would reduce rat-running, allow businesses to trade outdoors and give people more places to stop and rest.
“I believe that limiting through-traffic on Princess Victoria Street, between 11am and 5pm every day, will give residents and visitors the space to shop at leisure," Clifton ward councillors Paula O’Rourke and Katy Grant were quoted as saying at the time.
"When the street is car-free, it will be a cleaner and safer place for community use. "
The councillors said the change will make Clifton "even more vibrant and exciting", but now in their letter, dozens of businesses are calling for the council to review the street closure.
"That would be a concern," Mr Rees said in response.
"To be honest, there's nothing that we do that doesn't come with concerns.
"We recognise that things we do happen in a complicated world and good things can have negative consequences for some people.
"That doesn't stop them from being good. It just means that what we have to do is try to make sure that we minimise what people perceive, or are actual negative consequences so that we can realise the benefits of the good thing we're trying to get done."
In their letter, the businesses say they are committed to a greener, safer and more pleasant environment, but that they have to be turning a profit.
"Without enough customers, there will be fewer independent traders and more national chains, charity shops and food outlets," it continues.
In a press conference this week, Mayor Rees was asked if the pedestrianisation would ever be reversed.
"I would never say never," he said.
"I think the world is too complicated for that, but I think, what we have to do is have a conversation with people in the area.
"There have been concerns raised, but at the same time there have been a lot of people saying how great it is to have that pedestrianisation up there.
"What we won't do is stick a wet finger in the air and be blown around by a mass of voices at any particular point in time. We need to have an approach that is quite disciplined and really takes all those contributions into account and make the decision with all that information available to us."
You can give your opinion on the pedestrianisation as part of a council survey.
If you want to object you can do so either by writing to TRO Comments at the council, or by sending an email to tro.comments@bristol.gov.uk and quoting the reference CAE/RGW/EP-1209.
You must include your name and address and be aware that any comments received by the council could be considered in public.