News / Transport
‘Safety concerns’ over revised plans for Avon Crescent junction
Scaled-back safety measures planned for a junction on Spike Island “sell residents short”, according to a Bristol councillor.
Fabian Breckels made the comment last week as he and other members of the city council’s planning committee delayed their decision on the revised plans, citing safety concerns.
They plan to visit Avon Crescent to see for themselves the possible impact of the cost-saving proposals before voting on them next month.
is needed now More than ever
Original plans to calm traffic on the crescent as part of changes to the Metrobus route would have seen it become a shared space for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.
But amended plans submitted by the council’s Metrobus team earlier this year ditch the shared space in favour of less expensive measures, including a new pedestrian area, a speed bump, parking spaces and improved access for HGVs.
The updated plans for measures at Avon Crescent
Breckels, a Labour councillor for St George Troopers Hill, sympathised with residents left angry by the watered-down proposals, saying he would be “pretty miffed” too.
“It really smacks of selling the local residents short, promising them one thing and then giving them something way below what was offered,” he said. “I don’t believe in selling people short like this, I really don’t.”
Committee chair and Conservative councillor for Bishopsworth Richard Eddy said he also felt uncomfortable about the original safety plans being torn up “purely because of cost overruns”.
The Metrobus scheme was originally estimated to cost £190m, but is now expected to come in at more than £230m.
Other committee members described aspects of the amended proposals as “unsafe” for pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchair users.
A council officer admitted they were “not as good” as the original plans approved four years ago but said they were “acceptable” from a planning perspective.
Planning officers had recommended councillors approve the plans, but the development control B committee voted unanimously to defer their decision until their next meeting on December 19 to allow time for a site visit.
The decision was referred to the committee by Mark Wright, a Lib Dem councillor for Hotwells and Harbourside, who, along with Avon Crescent residents, opposed the revised plans on safety grounds.
Wright has said the new scheme “will not achieve the aims of cutting vehicle speeds and volumes”.
The junction from Cumberland Road. Image from Google Maps
In early 2014 more than 4,200 people signed a petition supporting closure of Avon Crescent to through traffic and making it a shared space.
The new plan would continue to stop traffic entering Avon Crescent from Cumberland Road and would see an island installed at the junction “to protect cyclists.”
The pedestrian crossing point would also be built out at the bottom of the steps and the number of parking spaces could be increased.
A speed bump would be installed in Avon Crescent, and an overrun area for HGVs painted on the road at the far end.
The footway area near McAdam Way and Ashton Avenue would also be extended to “enhance cycle and pedestrians routes” .
Bristol City Council has said the increased cost of the Metrobus scheme as a whole has meant some elements had to be “reduced or removed”.
Some residents living in Avon Crescent are still unhappy with the plans and have raised safety concerns around cyclists using the pavement, as well as the speed of cars along the street.
Amanda Cameron is a local democracy reporter for Bristol
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