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Old City pedestrianisation plans move step closer
Bristol’s mayor has said he wants to “quicken the pace” of work to pedestrianise the city centre.
Marvin Rees and his cabinet member for transport, Kye Dudd, said that the city council is planning a host of schemes to deter car use and encourage active travel.
Speaking at the first cabinet meeting held since the lockdown began, Dudd said a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) was part of a package of measures, which included a ring of park and rides and investment in cycling and walking.
is needed now More than ever
Rees referred to “the work we’re going to be doing to support central city living where people won’t need cars and can be involved in active travel” at the Zoom meeting.
“And, as we’ve talked about, speeding up the, certainly putting the energy into, quickening the pace of pedestrianisation within the centre of the city as well, could be a couple of real drives we take on right now and really press our case with government as we begin to redesign the city right now,” he said.
Rees promised to pedestrianise the Old City when campaigning for re-election earlier this year, before Covid-19 meant May’s mayoral election was postponed for a year.
Councillors were updated on progress towards removing traffic from the area in February of this year, but there was no firm timescale for the project mooted at that stage.
Rees said: “We remain committed to delivering clean air for the city which will improve the quality of life for all of Bristol.
“But the challenges facing our city have changed significantly since we submitted our outline plans last year with those thousands of businesses and jobs at risk and we must consider the changed economic position and how future working arrangements and transport may actually change.
“And actually, as we are proactively planning to take advantage of government spending right now to rebuild our economy, we are directing that towards clean jobs and the green economy, so, while we are challenged on one hand, we are trying to flip that to make sure we gain advantages on the other to minimise the impact our city’s development has on the planet’s air and ecosystems.
“And this includes the heavy emphasis we’re placing on green jobs and green infrastructure redevelopment opportunities.
“We will be bringing further updates on the clean air zone as the work progresses.”
Rees’ comments came three days before prime minister Boris Johnson told “M9” mayors on May 1 to encourage people to walk or cycle to work to help avoid a resurgence in in car use when lockdown restrictions are partially lifted.
Tim Bowles, who leads the West of England Combined Authority, is one of the M9 mayors.
Photo and video by Martin Booth
Read more: International inspiration for plans to pedestrianise Old City
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