By John Wimperis, local democracy reporter: Major plans to block three roads in Bath to through traffic are on hold after a legal challenge by locals seeking an injunction.
Work had been set to start on the controversial plans — which locals warn will “sacrifice the health and safety of school children” — early next week. The plans are part of Bath and North East Somerset Council’s liveable neighbourhood programme, which aim to make residential roads safer and more pleasant routes for walking and cycling but which some people have warned are actually making roads more dangerous.
But now the plans are on hold until after a court hearing on August 8, where a judge will decide whether to list the suspension or whether the application for an injunction should proceed to a judicial review hearing.
Manda Rigby, council cabinet member for highways, said: “Our immediate priority is to make people aware that the scheme is paused until the outcome of next week’s hearing. We will be writing to let residents know and encourage people to check our liveable neighbourhoods webpage for updates.”
The council had planned to install bollards across Winifred’s Lane, at the top of Cavendish Road, on Monday with a “no right turn” sign to stop people turning from Cavendish Road onto Sion Hill. This would take traffic away from Lansdown Crescent, one of the city’s most expensive streets.
But locals warn it will funnel those cars along Sion Hill Place and along Julian Road, right past children’s schools. Over 2,700 people have signed a petition against the plan.
A representative of a nearby residents association told the Local Democracy Reporting Service in February: “The council seems willing to sacrifice the health and safety of school children and thousands of Bath residents to extend the privilege of a few extremely privileged people on Lansdown Crescent.”
The plans would also see bollards installed across Catharine Place and a major overhaul of the Gay Street, blocking through traffic from passing the junction with George Street.
Although the application for an injunction has put the scheme on hold, traffic signal work is still set to be carried out. There will be no access into the upper end of Gay Street from George Street on August 6–7 and all parking on Gay Street will be suspended. The council is asking for parked vehicles to be removed from the area before 7am on August 6.
If allowed to go ahead, the liveable neighbourhood would be in place for a trial period of at least six months before a decision is taken on whether to make it permanent. Another liveable neighbourhood trial is currently underway on Sydney Road, where bollards have been installed across where it meets Sydney Place.
The scheme has also been highly controversial. People on the street have said they have been “freed from the tyranny of the motor vehicle” but people on neighbouring roads warned it had made their streets more busy and dangerous. One neighbour told Bath and North East Somerset Council: “Their liveable neighbourhood has become our unliveable neighbourhood.”
There have also been issues with vehicles driving down Sydney Road and having to turn around. One coach got stuck had to spend half an hour turning around, while a different vehicle which had to make the turn knocked down one house’s gate post. The scheme has been so controversial it has even been debated in Parliament.
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The journalists are funded by the BBC as part of its latest Charter commitment, but are employed by regional news organisations. A total of 165 reporters are allocated to news organisations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland including Bath Voice. These organisations range from television and radio stations to online media companies and established regional newspaper groups. Local Democracy Reporters cover top-tier local authorities, second-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.
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