Category: Bus

Attempts to create a safer, healthier, and greener neighbourhood in East Bristol are set to move forward as measures are installed as part of the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood trial scheme.

Measures to better manage traffic, provide safe journey routes for pedestrians and active travel and introduce new planters and pocket parks across the trial area are set to be installed between 28 October and 10 January.

Works to install the measures will take place across Barton Hill and parts of Redfield and St George.

Councillor Ed Plowden, Chair of the Transport and Connectivity Committee, said: “The East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood trial is the culmination of two years of working with the community to find out common concerns with local streets and ideas for possible solutions. From air pollution and road safety to a lack of places for the community to meet, a Liveable Neighbourhood is more than preventing rat-running, it’s about creating people-friendly streets.

“The trial will be a big change and take a bit of time to get used to, especially for people who are used to driving particular routes. That’s why we’ve created a short film, online resources, and are offering one-to-one online journey planning sessions.

“As the measures are being installed using temporary materials, they will only give an idea of how the streets could look and work as part of the permanent scheme, which would see local streets transformed with smart new infrastructure and extra measures.”

The trial measures will be installed in five phases:

• Phase 1 – St George including Wicket Lane, Beaufort Road, Blackswarth Road, Glebe Road and The Avenue – from 28 October to 6 November
• Phase 2 – Redfield including Avonvale Road, Pilemarsh, Marsh Lane, Barnes Street, Victoria Avenue and Byron Street – from 11 to 29 November
• Phase 3 – Barton Hill including Kingsmarsh Way and Lincoln Street – from 2 to 9 December
• Phase 4 – Barton Hill and Redfield including Lancaster Street and Cobden Street – from 10 to 13 December
• Phase 5 – Barton Hill and Redfield including Grindell Road, Barton Hill Road/Ducie Road and Ducie Road bridge – from 16 December to 10 January

Work to install double yellow lines, dropped kerbs and tactile paving will also take place on Crews Hole Road as part of the wider lining and signage works for the whole trial area.

Once the measures have been installed, drivers will still be able to access all roads within the trial area, but most routes for motorised vehicles will change. They will make it easier and safer to walk, wheel and cycle throughout the area.

As part of the trial 24-hour bus gates will be installed on Avonvale Road, Marsh Lane and Pilemash. Variable message signs will notify people driving when they will start being enforced. After this time, all unauthorised vehicles that travel through the bus gates will receive fines.

Authorised vehicles that will be able to travel through the east Bristol bus gates include:

• buses
• emergency services
• refuse vehicles
• cycles and e-scooters
• taxis and private hire vehicles
• parents/carers who live within the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood area who receive a personal travel budget for their child
• residents who live in the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood Area who have a disabled class vehicle
• professional carers providing care within the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood Area

Exemptions for disabled tax class vehicles and professional carers providing care in the community will need to be applied for from mid-November. For more information and how to apply for an exemption, go to www.bristol.gov.uk/eblnbusgates.

Google Maps will start to update ahead of the trial, so people are aware of the changes and do not arrive at a recently installed closure point. Diversion signage will also go up at relevant locations before the works start.

Views on the trial will be sought in 2025. The council has been collecting baseline data and will collect ongoing data to determine how best to replace the temporary measures with permanent infrastructure. This will also include extra street lighting, new crossings with traffic signals, sections of cycle track and new street trees.

The East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood pilot project is being funded from the UK Government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement, administered by the West of England Combined Authority.

Find out more and book a travel planning session. 

Original press release by Bristol City Council