Anti-liveable neighbourhood petition handed to council

A 4,000-strong petition calling for a halt to a liveable neighbourhood trial has been handed to the council delivering it.

The traffic calming project, which is currently being installed, is designed to reduce rat-running and promote active travel in parts of the St George, Redfield and Barton Hill areas of Bristol.

Two groups in favour and opposition to the Bristol City Council-run low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) campaigned outside City Hall on Tuesday before a debate on the scheme.

The council has urged people to assess the impact once the trial had been completed next year.

The temporary scheme is closing some through roads in East Bristol and results will be evaluated next year.

Its roll-out has sparked protests and calls for the council to listen to the concerns of affected residents.

The petition led to a debate among councillors during a council meeting.

Melissa Topping, who lives on Victoria Avenue, relies on her wheelchair and driving her wheelchair-accessible van to get around.

Holding back tears in the protest outside City Hall, she told the BBC said the community will "go down hill fast if they [the council] don't start listening".

"They're taking away my disabled access in the process," she said.

"Since the scheme has come in the traffic on Church Road and all around, you can taste the fumes. The pollution is off the scale. Idling cars everywhere. Once they close our roads off this is going to get worst."

She added: "We're hoping to be listened to. To have our voices heard as a community because we need our lives to go forward."

Sam Gunner, who lives in St George, supports the scheme and said it has had a "real, massive positive impact".

"I'm able to transport my kids around, get them to school everyday by bike," he said.

"I'm really keen to make sure it isn't halted so people can feel the benefit I've been lucky to feel so far."

The liveable neighbourhood involves a variety of traffic calming measures including bus gates, cycle lanes, with bollards and planters blocking through traffic.

It had been installed on a trial basis with a view to becoming permanent next year, costing up to £6m.

Green Party councillor Ed Plowden said the trial will "rebalance our streets".

"We hope there will be better air quality, less noise pollution, more people walking and cycling, and less congestion as well," he said.

"Certainly we would like to see less people using unsuitable residential roads as shortcuts.

"For a long time our roads have been dominated by motorists and cars. Cars we know are bad for our health, climate, and our economy.

He added the council will make tweaks and will listen to residents.

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