Shaping the future of South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhoods
Councillor Ed Plowden, Chair of the Transport and Connectivity Committee, talks about the proposals for South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood and why it’s so important for residents to provide feedback and tell us how they feel about them.
The wards of Bedminster, Southville and Windmill Hill are thriving areas of Bristol that are growing year on year. As those areas continue to grow, it is important that as a council we invest in those communities to create new and improved infrastructure that they can benefit from, which enhances parks and green spaces, makes walking and cycling safer and easier, and improves public transport for current and new residents.
Residents in those wards have told us they want quieter, more pleasant and safer streets, which is why they were chosen for the city’s second Liveable Neighbourhood.
The aim of Liveable Neighbourhoods is to make streets healthier, more accessible and more pleasant by:
- putting people first – reducing traffic and lowering vehicle speeds to create safer, more welcoming and accessible streets. Vehicles would still be able to access all properties at any time, though some routes may change
- prioritising health – improving air quality and allowing more people to choose physically active travel options, like walking and cycling, and be safe doing so. This also frees up the roads for people that really need them, like delivery drivers, tradespeople and disabled people
- making better community spaces – designing calmer streets and greener areas where people can relax, children can play, and families feel safe travelling to school
How we’ve engaged so far
Since early 2024, we’ve been engaging with key stakeholders including emergency services, Bristol Waste, public transport providers, community groups and large businesses.
During summer 2024, we held a 12-week engagement stage which gave residents and businesses the opportunity to express their thoughts as well their ideas for the area using an interactive map. Thousands of comments were received on the interactive map, and at the end of the engagement we had received 6,081 comments from 1,562 people. An online survey went out alongside the map, which had a further 513 submissions and over 12,000 open text responses were also submitted.
Our engagement with key stakeholders and residents, and the feedback we received from them, was incredibly useful and was used to develop the proposals which we are currently consulting on until the end of October.
The top three issues highlighted during the engagement stage were speeding traffic, problems with car parking and it not being safe for people on foot and on bike.
The top suggestions from participants for how the area could be improved were safe crossings and junctions, managing unsafe vehicle speeds, managing on-street car parking, wider/clearer pavement and priority for people on bike and foot at side roads.
The proposals that we’re currently consulting on have been shaped using this feedback.
As someone who lives in the South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhoods area and as one of the ward councillors for Windmill Hill, I know how important it is to feel safe and connected in your neighbourhood. These proposals, and the feedback we receive from you, are about making that a reality.
The current consultation
Our proposals for South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhoods (SBLN) cover 11 neighbourhoods that we’ve identified: Ashton Gate, Ashton Vale, Bedminster East, Malago Vale, Parson Street, Perrett Park, Southville, The Chessels, Totterdown, Totterdown East and Windmill Hill.
The proposals include:
- introducing parking measures
- changes to traffic movements
- improving local transport options
- better road safety
- improvements on high streets and places where there are schools and local centres
I would recommend taking a look at all the proposals in detail at South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhoods Proposals.
We are also putting a particular focus on the Totterdown, Southville and Bedminster East neighbourhoods during this phase of the project. This is due to a number traffic concerns, the level of support for change expressed in the 2024 engagement stage, their closeness to the city centre and their strong links to the existing transport network.
Why your voice matters
Liveable Neighbourhoods can generate strong feelings – whether you support or oppose the proposals, your feedback will help us design solutions that reflect the needs of the community. We want to hear from as many people as possible to make sure the final designs are shaped by those who live and work in South Bristol.
A consultation is currently live to get your feedback on the proposals for South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhoods. You have until 30 October at midnight to have your say.
I can assure you that we take all feedback seriously and we are already making changes to the proposals based on the feedback we are receiving. For those that email, we are unable to produce a bespoke response, but every suggestion or concern is logged and coded.
Visit www.bristol.gov.uk/SBLN to view the proposals and fill out the consultation.
Your input will play a vital role in how the project comes to life.
If you would like to speak with a member of the SBLN team about the proposals, why not attend one of their remaining drop-in information sessions? You don’t need to book, just turn up:
- 16 October, 4 to 7pm: Library of Things (Google map)
- 20 October, 12 to 3pm: The Harbour, Totterdown (Google map)
I really hope you’ll share your thoughts and help shape the future of South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhoods.
