By John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter: Plans to make a controversial liveable neighbourhood in Bath permanent have been called-in by councillors.
The bollards on Sydney Road were installed in April 2024 on a trial basis as part of Bath and North East Somerset Council’s liveable neighbourhood programme. Council cabinet member for resources Mark Elliott (Lansdown, Liberal Democrat) took the decision to make the scheme permanent earlier this month — but now 12 independent, Labour, Conservative, and Green councillors have called-in the decision.
The intervention means that the decision will now be debated by a council scrutiny panel who can decide whether to ask Mr Elliott to change the decision. Leading the call-in, Colin Blackburn (Westmoreland, Independent) said: “All I can do is try and make it as democratic as possible.”
Closing Sydney Road to through traffic means vehicles heading along the A36 into Bath have to go by Beckford Road. Mr Blackburn said that impact on traffic times was not his concern. He said: “The safety aspect is, the pollution aspect is, but more so for me is the democratic process.” He said the councillors were representing their residents “for what they feel should be the right solution for them.”
The call-in argues that it is “unconstitutional” for bringing in the liveable neighbourhood to be a decision made by a single councillor, and says it should be treated as a key decision. It added: “The households who benefit are vastly outnumbered by those who suffer.”
1,899 people responded to the consultation on the scheme — with 76% opposed to the scheme, and 24% in favour. Of the 104 responses from people living on Sydney Road and New Sydney Place, 72% were in favour of the scheme; but the 684 respondents living on nearby roads within the trial area were 70% against. 83% of the 1,090 people who responded but live outside the trial area were opposed.
One woman who lives on Beckford Road told a full meeting of the council on February 25 that the additional traffic on her road had led to congestion and near misses. She said: “I am at a loss as to what motive this council has to force this through when it is so abundantly clear that you have created an unsafe environment that residents do not want.”
Speaking ahead of taking the single member decision to make the scheme permanent, Mr Elliott said: “It is interesting to see from the feedback how people’s opinions have shifted over the course of the trial to be more positive, although a significant number are obviously still opposed.
“The consultation process allowed people to express a wide range of views. The trial is a result of years of campaigning by residents, and it’s important that I assess whether the reasons for objecting are supported by evidence. I also note that the Bath Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Links scheme aims to further improve connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists by proposing a safer route connecting Bathwick and the city centre than the current National Cycle Route 4, which currently follows the busy A36.”
Alongside Mr Blackburn, the call-in was signed by: Shaun Hughes (Midsomer Norton North, Independent), Alan Hale (Keynsham South, Independent), Gavin Heathcote (Peasedown, Independent), Liz Hardman (Paulton, Labour), Lesley Mansell (Radstock, Labour), Chris Dando (also Radstock, Labour), Tim Warren (Midsomer Norton Redfield, Conservative), Sarah Evans (also Midsomer Norton Redfield, Conservative), Grant Johnson (also Paulton, Labour), Robin Moss (Westfield, Labour), and Joanna Wright (Lambridge, Green).
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