East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood trial scheme starting soon

New measures aimed at better managing traffic and providing safe journey routes for pedestrians will be installed across Barton Hill and parts of Redfield and St George from Monday.

They are part of the long-awaited East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood trial scheme, which if proves a success could be made permanent.

As part of the trial, bus gates will be installed on Avonvale Road, Marsh Lane and Pile Marsh, which will still be able to be driven through in cars by parents and carers who live within the trial area who receive a personal travel budget for their child, residents who who have a disabled class vehicle, and professional carers providing care within the neighbourhood.

All unauthorised vehicles that travel through the bus gates will receive fines – image: Bristol City Council

Ed Plowden, chair of the transport & connectivity committee, said: “The East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood trial is the culmination of two years of working with the community to find out common concerns with local streets and ideas for possible solutions.

“From air pollution and road safety to a lack of places for the community to meet, a Liveable Neighbourhood is more than preventing rat-running, it’s about creating people-friendly streets.

“The trial will be a big change and take a bit of time to get used to, especially for people who are used to driving particular routes.

“That’s why we’ve created a short film, online resources, and are offering one-to-one online journey planning sessions.

Plowden added: “As the measures are being installed using temporary materials.

“They will only give an idea of how the streets could look and work as part of the permanent scheme, which would see local streets transformed with smart new infrastructure and extra measures.”

Temporary measures will be installed at Wicket Lane – image: Bristol City Council

Samira Musse, managing director of Barton Hill Activity Club, is not happy about the arrival of the trial.

She tweeted that the liveable neighbourhood scheme “has discrimination and inequality written all over it”.

Musse added: “BCC do the right thing and stop this madness. 55% of children in Barton Hill are living in poverty.

“Our children, disabled and elderly people deserve better.

“Barton Hill has the most overcrowded housing, overcrowded schools, overcrowded sport centre, overcrowded GP, no library, no pharmacy or dentist.

“55% of children living in poverty, maybe the UK’s, worst area to grow up as a child.”

A visual of temporary measures that will be installed at Glebe Road – image: Bristol City Council

The trial measures will be installed in five phases:

• Phase 1: St George including Wicket Lane, Beaufort Road, Blackswarth Road, Glebe Road and The Avenue – from October 28-November 6
• Phase 2: Redfield including Avonvale Road, Pile Marsh, Marsh Lane, Barnes Street, Victoria Avenue and Byron Street – from November 11-29
• Phase 3: Barton Hill including Kingsmarsh Way and Lincoln Street – from December 2-9
• Phase 4: Barton Hill and Redfield including Lancaster Street and Cobden Street – from December 10-13
• Phase 5: Barton Hill and Redfield including Grindell Road, Barton Hill Road/Ducie Road and Ducie Road bridge – from December 16-January 10

One of the bus gates will be installed on Avonvale Road – image: Bristol City Council

Diversion signage will go up at relevant locations before the works start and residents will be asked for their views on the trial in 2025.

If the trial is made permanent, funding from the government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement administered by WECA will be used to replace the temporary measures with permanent infrastructure including extra street lighting, new crossings with traffic signals, sections of cycle track and new street trees.

Attempts to create a safer, healthier, and greener neighbourhood are set to move forward – image: Bristol City Council

Main image: Bristol City Council

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