Public react to pedestrianisation of Princess Victoria Street
It's been done to help tackle the climate emergency but some love it, others hate it
Last updated 25th Aug 2021
Residents, business owners and visitors have all been reacting to the pedestrianisation of Princess Victoria Street in Clifton.
Part of the road at the Regent Street end has become the latest thoroughfare in Bristol to be closed to traffic in a bid to encourage people to drive less.
Today the road is lined with flower pots and cafes on the scene have tables and chairs spilling into the street, giving them a much larger capacity than before.
On the surface it looks a lovely setting and those we spoke to sitting out having a bite to eat or a coffee when we paid a visit agreed.
"Pedestrianisations I think are always a good idea," one man said.
"Roads came about, they weren't planned, they just happened.
"Cars came along and we've just had to adapt to having cars on the road when pedestrians should really have the right of way."
"We're pretty happy with it," the manager at Parsons Bakery added.
"It's a lot less noisy which is great and the people seem a lot happier.
"I'm excited to get more tables and chairs out for people to be able to chill."
Another, visiting from Falmouth in Cornwall said he was impressed and hoped more similar schemes were rolled out in his home town.
Scratch the surface though and things are not as calm as they seem.
The road is also home to clothes shops, jewellers and a pharmacy among other things.
Outside of hospitality all bar one of the business owners we spoke to expressed dismay at the change; most declined to speak on the record saying they feared a backlash from opponents, but one who did was Upveer Manro, the manager at Clifton Village Pharmacy.
"I'm not a fan of it no," he said.
"Footfall has been down approximately 50 percent already. I suspect that is going to continue.
"We're having people telling us that they are going to be leaving us and going to other pharmacies simply because of parking.
"Those pharmacies are further away, so these people will be driving further to park somewhere else, so I don't see what the environmental benefit is supposed to be to all of this either."
Another, speaking off record, said the change had been disastrous for the Co-op on the street saying the supermarket has seen a huge drop in revenue, while a third admitted they were unhappy but declined to comment further saying they did not like to get involved in "political issues".
We have not been able to verify the statement regarding the Co-op, as staff inside the store declined to speak to us.
Upveer though, called the impact on his pharmacy business "very concerning".
"I'm considering potentially relocating from this area," he said.
"It may be of some benefit to some businesses like cafes for example of which there are many in this area,.
"Unfortunately it is not benefiting us in any way and it is only proving to be detrimental."
We have contacted Bristol City Council for a response.