News / Hotwells

Rat-run next to primary school could be made safer for pedestrians

By Martin Booth  Monday May 8, 2023

Traffic calming measures could be introduced next to a primary school to make drop-off and pick-up times safer for children and adults.

School leaders at Hotwells Primary School have been working with councillor and parent, Katy Grant, as well as local residents to get a zebra or pelican crossing installed on Hope Chapel Hill.

Other options in a parent survey include the introduction of a 10mph speed limit on Hope Chapel Hill, timed road closures and the removal of car parking spaces to be replaced with bike racks.

Independent journalism
is needed now More than ever
Keep our city's journalism independent.

Grant is a Green councillor for the Clifton ward which – despite its name – Hotwells Primary School sits within.

She said: “Hope Chapel Hill is a steep and straight and one-way street used intensely at rush hour times of the day as a rat-run to Hotwell Road.

“It runs straight past Hotwells Primary school, and although the road is very narrow, traffic still comes bowling down it at quite a pace.

“The changes we want to make will encourage walking and biking, and make the area around Hotwells Primary safer for school children and families at key moments in the day.

“It’s part of a wider vision to calm traffic in and around Hotwell Road, where we want to reinstall a bike and bus lane, widen pavements and plant trees to show drivers that this is a busy residential area where pedestrian movements should take priority.

“Hotwell Road is also one of the areas of poor air quality in the city, and we want this to change too.”

Main photo: Martin Booth

Read next:

Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast:

Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
I want to receive (tick as many as you want):
I'm interested in (for future reference):
Marketing Permissions

Bristol24/7 will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing. Please let us know all the ways you would like to hear from us:

We will only use your information in accordance with our privacy policy, which can be viewed here - main-staging.bristol247.com/privacy-policy/ - you can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of any email you receive from us, or by contacting us at meg@bristol247.com. We will treat your information with respect.


We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here.

Related articles

You've read %d articles this month
Consider becoming a member today
Independent journalism
is needed now More than ever
You've read %d articles this month
Consider becoming a member today
You've read %d articles this month
Consider becoming a member today
Join the Better
Business initiative
You've read %d articles this month
Consider becoming a member today
* prices do not include VAT
You've read %d articles this month
Consider becoming a member today
Enjoy delicious local
exclusive deals
You've read %d articles this month
Consider becoming a member today
Wake up to the latest
Get the breaking news, events and culture in your inbox every morning