Bollards are due to be installed before Christmas at Southlands in Weston to replace the planters that currently restrict through-traffic.
The planters at Southlands | Photo © Bath Echo
Additional measures to support active travel in the area are also being lined up.
Southlands, which links Weston High Street to the north and Penn Hill Road to the south, was one of three Liveable Neighbourhoods launched by Bath & North East Somerset Council on a trial in November 2022.
The council said it was in response to residents’ concerns about the volume and speed of through-traffic at Southlands.
The restriction, which divided opinion among residents, became permanent early last year after a six-month public consultation.
The decision was taken by Councillor Manda Rugby, who was the cabinet member for transport at the time. Her decision was subsequently called in for scrutiny by a panel of councillors but upheld.
Now, following consultation with local residents earlier this year, the council has announced that it will be swapping out the planters for permanent “modal filters “– two bollards – and amending the double yellow line layout, as well as bringing in measures to support walking, wheeling and cycling in the area as part of the Liveable Neighbourhoods programme.
A sketch of how the bollards could look | Image © B&NES Council
The council says it already has funding from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (WECA) for the improvements.
The plans for the through-traffic restriction include:
- Narrowing a five-metre stretch of road at the existing location of the restriction (outside numbers 126 to 128) to create a three-metre-wide cycle lane with wider pavements on the western side. Installing bollards lining the pavements to prevent vehicles from bypassing the filter.
- Installing two removable bollards to replace the temporary planters. These will still allow cyclists and scooters to pass through. Emergency service vehicles will be able to remove the bollards with a coded padlock.
- Installing a “knee-high” fence around the green to prevent vehicles from driving on it.
The plans to slow traffic and provide a safer crossing on Penn Hill Road, which is a walk-to-school route, involve:
- A zebra crossing near the entrance to Weston Bowling Club, raised to pavement height and including tactile paving. This will replace the existing ‘informal’ crossing.
- Pavements on either side will be widened to narrow the Penn Hill Road.
- Keeping the bus stop outside the bowling club in the same location.
There are plans to improve lighting and pedestrian access from Southlands to the High Street shops, including for people with disabilities, mobility aids and pushchairs, by:
- Redesigning the steps to the High Street in line with Department for Transport (DfT) Inclusive Mobility Guidance. This replaces the earlier boardwalk proposal.
- Replacing lighting columns.
- Cutting back overgrown hedges.
The council says that earlier this year, 22 people shared their views on the proposals “with general support for the measures as well as alternative suggestions and some concerns”.
The key themes were:
- Suggestions for alternatives to the boulders that were originally proposed for the green.
- Concerns over the visibility and accessibility of the bollards.
- Concerns about the safety and accessibility of the boardwalk (asphalt ramps).
- Comments about the maintenance and lighting of the paths to the High Street.
- Concerns over the new position of the bus stop.
- Concerns that the additional crossing and narrowing of Penn Hill Road is “unnecessary” and could impact on safety and traffic.
The designers say they looked at alternatives to boulders to protect the grassed area from vehicles trying to bypass the filter and have now proposed a low fence to allow access for maintenance.
They say the proposed bollards can be removed by emergency services for access, and that reflective strips will ensure the bollards can be seen in the dark. The emergency services were consulted on the scheme.
Due to several constraints, the proposed boardwalk ramp from Southlands to the High Street was not technically feasible, so instead, the accessibility of the existing steps is being improved.
The designers say the impacts on residents and wildlife will be considered regarding the design of the lighting, and that regular maintenance for hedges will be scheduled.
The crossing and bus stops on Penn Hill Road are said to be in the only technically feasible positions and are approved by safety officers.
And the designers say Penn Hill Road will be narrowed at the point of the crossing, which will slow the traffic and improve safety for pedestrians.
The council says the scheme will be monitored once in place.
People are invited to have their say on the latest proposals by 20th November.
The council intends to install the new modal filter design between 8th December and 19th December and to install the zebra crossing on Penn Hill Road next June. Work to improve the steps leading to the High Street is scheduled for next July.
