Protesters have halted the installation of a liveable neighbourhood in Bristol, causing delays in road changes aimed at improving local traffic.
Bristol: So, the whole liveable neighbourhood project in east Bristol has hit a snag. Protesters have been blocking the contractors, which means the installation is on hold. Some changes have been made, but most of the planned road updates are still waiting in the wings.
This trial is all about stopping drivers from cutting through residential areas in places like St George, Redfield, and Barton Hill. But not everyone is on board. Some locals are worried their drives will take longer, and they’ve made their voices heard.
Looks like the opponents have made a bit of a stand against the council. A lot of the area still looks the same, and the installation was supposed to wrap up this month, but there’s not much to show for it yet—just some temporary signs saying “bus gates not operational.”
Green Councillor Ed Plowden, who’s in charge of transport policy, mentioned that the aim is to create safer and healthier communities. He gets that change can be tough, but he believes it’s necessary for better air quality and less congestion.
He also pointed out that the contractors have tried to get the work done, but the protests have made it impossible. This pause is costing the council and taxpayers money, but they still want to finish the trial and are figuring out how to do it safely.
Some areas, like Beaufort Road in St George, have seen some progress. That street was a hotspot for drivers trying to avoid traffic, and the trial seems to be more popular there. They’ve put in large wooden planters to keep the cut-through traffic down while still allowing access for local drivers and cyclists.
But in other spots, not much has changed. For instance, at Marsh Lane, there are just paint outlines where a planter was supposed to go. This area had a standoff last year between contractors and protesters, so it’s been a bit of a mess.
Thousands of people signed a petition to stop the trial, which led to a debate at City Hall last month. Some councillors asked the critics to hold off for a few months to gather data on how the trial is working before making any final decisions.
After the trial wraps up, the council plans to look at the data and feedback from residents and businesses. They’re keeping an eye on how many vehicles are using different streets, which will help them understand the impact on traffic. They’re also tracking how many people are walking and cycling, along with bus journey times and air quality to see if there are any improvements.
