Work to start on Bath city centre active travel scheme next week
Construction starts next week on a new walking, wheeling and cycling scheme in the historic city centre of Bath.
To date, Bristol City Council has successfully launched the School Streets scheme with sixteen primary schools in the city, and we are now looking to extend this to Our Lady of the Rosary RC Primary School.
We are now seeking feedback on the proposals. To give your opinion please fill in the survey which will close on the 23rd March 2026.
The main aims of Bristol School Streets are to:
To reduce traffic danger and congestion in the area, Bristol City Council is proposing to turn Tide Grove into a walking, wheeling, cycling and scooting-only zone at school start and finish times.
Please note, a permanent one-way system has also been proposed on Tide Grove. This one-way system would be in place 24 hours and 7 days a week.
Vehicles would not be permitted to enter the zone for 45 minutes in the morning from 8.30am to 9.15am and 50 minutes in the afternoon from 2.50pm to 3.40pm. Emergency vehicles, Blue Badge holders and residents of Tide Grove would be exempt from these restrictions.
The scheme can be enforced by the police. The penalty for ignoring the prohibition is a fixed penalty notice. Advanced warning signs would be installed, and temporary barriers placed at the entrance to the scheme and monitored by school staff. All vehicles already parked in the zone before the times of operation would be able to exit without incurring a fixed penalty notice.
School Streets will make it easier for Blue Badge holders to access the school entrances by reducing traffic outside the school gates. Those holding valid Blue Badges will be exempt from the restrictions, but existing parking restrictions (e.g. double yellow lines) still apply. We will ask that Blue Badge holders display their Blue Badge clearly in the windscreen of their vehicle and they may be stopped and asked to confirm their details on some occasions.
We would ask people with additional access requirements and those with disabilities to contact the Bristol School Streets team to discuss any personal access needs as they may be eligible for an exemption access permit.
Parents or carers dropping children at school will not be eligible for an exemption, unless you or your child are a Blue Badge holder, resident of Tide Grove or have access needs. We are pleased that parents at our existing Bristol School Streets schools are embracing the scheme and are choosing to walk, cycle or scoot where possible.
School staff will need to be inside the School Street zone area before it comes into operation. Only staff who have a Blue Badge will be exempt. School staff will be able to leave the zone during the times of operation without requiring an access permit.
Bristol School Streets aims to encourage and prioritise a safe environment around schools to allow for walking, cycling and scooting. Parents and carers who feel they need to drive will need to park legally nearby and walk the remainder of the journey.
We are working with the school to promote active travel to school, which includes walking, wheeling, cycling and scooting. We are also looking at identifying suitable park and stride locations, enabling parents and carers to park slightly further away from the school and walk the remaining distance.
Evidence suggests that where School Streets have been implemented, the result is a reduction in car use rather than displacement to surrounding streets. We would continue to monitor the impact of the scheme once it has been implemented.
Tide Grove should be visibly calmer and feel safer during these times. Data will be collected before the scheme is implemented and monitored once the measures are in place, so we can access the change in traffic levels and how pupils are travelling to school. We will continue to review feedback from the school and local community.
Bristol City Council would like to hear your views on the proposals which can be done by taking part in a short survey. The survey can be accessed by clicking the link below and will close on the 23rd March 2026.
Construction starts next week on a new walking, wheeling and cycling scheme in the historic city centre of Bath.
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