Why was there no consultation before removing Cheltenham Road cycle lane?

Questions have been raised over the lack of public consultation before a cycle lane on a busy Bristol road was recently removed.

Bristol City Council controversially removed the cycle lane on Cheltenham Road, leading to more cars parked on the pavement close to the Pipe & Slippers pub.

While old traffic lights were replaced, the junction of Cheltenham Road and Ashley Road was refurbished. This work included removing a “sub-standard” cycle lane coming south down Cheltenham Road.

Since the works have been finished, drivers have regularly been parking on the pavement on Cheltenham Road, with the removal of the cycle lane making it easier to do so – even during Bristol’s first Big Ride For Safer Cycling.

Bristol mayor Marvin Rees has now faced questions on why the public was not consulted beforehand.

During a full council meeting, Green councillor Emma Edwards said: “There was a meeting on September 30, 2021, where transport officers discussed the removal of the cycling lane with councillor Don Alexander (cabinet member for transport).

“In the minutes it said they expected pushback from the cycling lobby, the changes might receive criticism and could be contentious when it goes out to consultation.

“But then it doesn’t appear that there was a consultation after that. So I’m wondering why there wasn’t a consultation?”

………………………………….

Read more: ‘How can removing a cycle lane ever be justified?’

………………………………….

Rees said that Bristol City Council sent out 2,000 letters about the changes to the junction, but only two people responded to the letter – which he admitted that he had not read.

This letter was not a public consultation, did not include any questions or invite people to respond and was only sent to people living in the immediate area, despite Cheltenham Road being a main route into the city centre for many.

Rees asked Edwards: “Did you respond to that letter? It’s important that if we’re on an issue, to be on top of the issue and know what’s going on.

“Two thousand letters have gone out, only two responses to that letter. And that’s where we need people to be really engaging in council processes.

“It’s important for councillors not only to claim to want to be more involved in decision-making processes in the council, but to actually turn up at the forums when decisions are being made and be involved in the processes that lead to those decisions.”

Edwards, councillor for Bishopston & Ashley Down, replied: “I didn’t get it because it’s not in my ward. My residents are upset because it’s their cycle corridor, but I didn’t get the letter.

“Have you actually read the letter? Because it was just saying there’s going to be some traffic work, there weren’t actually any questions.”

Rees, who regularly cycles to work at City Hall, admitted that he had not read the letter.

Among other details, it stated that the refurbishment would include “improving inbound cycling facilities on Cheltenham Road by removing the cycle lane”.

Main photo & video: Martin Booth

Read next:

• Council U-turn as Whiteladies Road cycle lanes likely to be retained
• Mayor likens Acorn council meeting disrupters to Capitol Hill insurrection
• Hundreds of people very politely demand safer cycling
• Bristol needs a ‘comprehensive’ network of protected cycle lanes

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