News / Transport
‘The Green Party’s intention is to make cars work better and more efficiently for those who rely on them’
Ed Plowden has responded to comments following an interview with Bristol24/7 in which he told car drivers not to bother driving into Bristol once ambitious pedestrian pedestrianisation plans for the city centre are put in place.
“I was disappointed with the headline which I thought was taken out of context and did not reflect the rest of the interview or the otherwise balanced article published,” said Plowden, chair of the transport committee at City Hall.
“Throughout the interview I emphasised that the needs of disabled people are being proactively considered and there will of course be a full equalities impact assessment undertaken.
is needed now More than ever
“The team are already consulting with the West of England Centre for Inclusive Living as a matter of course.”
Responding to criticism from Labour councillor Kelvin Blake, who said that the city centre could become a “no-go zone” for disabled people, Plowden said there will be no loss of parking spaces for disabled people, and the main proposed relocation site on Fairfax Street is still close and level for access to Broadmead and Cabot Circus.
Plowden also revealed that the city council is looking at using Newgate as disabled parking and for taxi ranks on a temporary basis while construction is underway.
He added: “From a personal perspective, as soon as I saw the proposals I was concerned about loss of amenity for disabled people.
“I have been personally asking questions to assure myself we are addressing the wide range of impairments that can disable people.
“Some disabled people have welcomed the proposals as improvements.
“Quiet pedestrianised streets with benches and clean air can be more accessible, welcoming and comfortable than some of our current crowded and narrow pavements.
“By tackling congestion overall, the Green Party’s intention is to make cars work better and more efficiently for those that rely on them.
“We have also recently increased parking charges across the city to invest in the public transport that we know many disabled people rely on for connectivity.
“I am quite surprised to see these concerns being raised in this manner, given that these proposals to deliver the plan were consulted on last summer and approved by the previous administration in December 2023.
“Laid out in these papers were the plans to close the Horsefair and Penn Street to general traffic and to remove disabled parking from those areas, as well as Union Street, and set out where the alternatives would be.”
A consultation on the plans ends at the end of September. For more information and to take part, visit www.ask.bristol.gov.uk/bristol-city-centre-transport-changes-consultation-2024
Main photo: Martin Booth
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