East Bristol liveable neighbourhood will 'make walking safer' campaigners claim
Plans for the scheme, to be installed in Barton Hill and St George, are set to be implemented this winter
Plans for a liveable neighbourhood in Barton Hill and St George will “make walking safer” for pedestrians according to campaigners. Bristol City Council is planning to install planters and bollards on several streets in the east of the city this winter as part of controversial plans.
The East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood will be launched as a trial before potentially becoming permanent. The scheme will aim to stop drivers from using residential streets as rat runs to avoid congestion on main routes like Church Road.
Opponents of the plans have raised concerns the changes could impact local businesses, delay emergency services, and make driving harder for elderly and disabled people who rely on their cars. But Alan Morris, who chairs the Bristol Walking Alliance, welcomed the plans.
Mr Morris said: “Bristol Walking Alliance campaigns for making the pedestrian environment better, and we want to reinforce the message that liveable neighbourhoods are in principle a good thing for those who travel on foot. The proposals are not just about street changes that quieten some streets, while making car journeys a bit longer.
“The changes in east Bristol will also include pocket parks with planting and benches, street trees, better street lighting and improvements to signalised crossings. Why should pedestrians have to make do with what minimal space is left to enable cars to drive through our streets, and navigate around pavement space taken up by parked cars?
“Why shouldn’t measures be taken that make residential streets safe for children to play in the street, or walk to school? We all walk some of the time, so why should streets be designed solely for the needs of those who travel by car? Pedestrians get the short straw.”
The council previously promised to roll out a second liveable neighbourhood trial covering Bedminster and Southville. But last month Bristol mayor Marvin Rees said the council would learn from the first trial in Barton Hill and St George, “before rushing” to a second scheme.
Mr Morris added: “Liveable neighbourhoods start to redress the balance back in favour of pedestrians, and in doing so, we believe they are a good thing. We sincerely hope that the co-design process will overcome some of the nervousness around Bristol’s first liveable neighbourhood, and inspire plans for more in the future.”
You can find out more about the scheme here.