Date set for three trial traffic restrictions in Bath as part of Liveable Neighbourhoods programme

Three linked trial traffic restrictions are set to be installed the Lansdown area of Bath from July as part of Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Liveable Neighbourhoods programme.

Bath & North East Somerset Council has written to residents and businesses to let them know about the three linked trial traffic restrictions in Gay Street, Catharine Place and Winifred’s Lane which are set to start from 15 July.

The experimental trials will be in place for a minimum of six months under an Experimental Road Traffic Order (ETRO) and their impact will be monitored.

During the trial people are encouraged to share their views, at any point during the six-month trial, in a public consultation. No decision will be made on whether to make the trials permanent until the council has considered all the outcomes.

The trials are the result of community engagement and the decision to go ahead with the trials is explained on the council website at www.bathnes.gov.uk/lansdownetro. 

Councillor Manda Rigby, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “The trial streets are frequently used by motorists to avoid the main roads linking the A46/M4 to the south of Bath, so the aim is to address speeding and excessive through traffic. We also want to create a safe and pleasant active travel route through the area.  I want to reassure residents and businesses that vehicle access to properties will be maintained during the trials, although some drivers may have to use a different route.    

“Other trials have shown us that the best method of introducing complex Liveable Neighbourhood schemes is through an ETRO. This is because it gives us time to monitor the impacts of the scheme and for people to respond to the changes before any decision is taken.”

The schemes being trialled are:

• A through-traffic restriction on Catharine Place between Margaret’s Buildings and Rivers Street Mews.
• A through-traffic restriction on Winifred’s Lane preventing motorists (but not pedestrians or cyclists) from using this route as a short cut. This restriction is supplemented by a no-right turn (except cycles) into Sion Hill East from the top of Cavendish Road.
• A no-entry restriction preventing northbound motor vehicles from entering Gay Street from its junction with George Street. Access to this stretch of Gay Street, which remains two-way, will be from The Circus only. On exiting, vehicles can turn and exit via The Circus, or turn left into George Street. Motorists exiting this stretch of Gay Street will not be able to travel straight ahead to Queen Square.

Work on the trials is due to start from July 15 and letters will be sent to residents and businesses near the time to confirm dates.

The council secured £736,000 of funding from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) to implement the trials ahead of delivering the wider Liveable Neighbourhoods programme, the purpose of which is to develop a range of measures to improve streets. The Liveable Neighbourhood programme is a part of the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement, secured by the West of England Combined Authority and funded by the UK Government.

More information is available at www.bathnes.gov.uk/lansdownetro.