A community meeting organised by the Green Party to talk about a proposed bus gate on Camden Road in Bath packed out the New Oriel Hall in Larkhall.
Where the proposed bus gate would begin on Camden Road
At the meeting on Wednesday 20th November, residents from Walcot, Lambridge, and nearby areas shared their views on the proposed bus gate, which is part of the new London Road and Snow Hill area Liveable Neighbourhood (LN) plan.
The event had been billed as an opportunity for residents to speak directly with Councillor Manda Rigby, the cabinet member for highways at Lib Dem-controlled Bath & North East Somerset Council.
In a press release, the organisers said: “Cllr Manda Rigby did not turn up, despite being invited and sent promotion regarding the meeting.”
A spokesperson for Councillor Rigby told the Bath Echo that she had informed the organisers from the start that she wasn’t available on that date and had sent a statement to be read out at the meeting in which she explained the official public engagement programme begins in a few weeks.
At the meeting, residents highlighted their fears that the proposed bus gate could simply shift traffic congestion and pollution to other nearby streets, disrupting quieter residential areas.
The meeting at New Oriel Hall in Larkhall | Photo courtesy of B&NES Green Party
Councillors Joanna Wright and Saskia Heijltjes, who called the meeting, pointed out that while they support making neighbourhoods safer and more walkable, Lambridge residents have not been officially consulted, despite the significant impact on their area.
The discussion also referenced a 2017 University of Bath study, which showed high levels of traffic in Lambridge. That study reinforced the need for a comprehensive traffic plan looking at Bath as a whole, rather than focusing on isolated measures.
Councillor Wright said: “We’re thrilled by the strong community response. It’s vital that residents’ voices shape decisions that affect their streets and their lives.
“A city-wide traffic solution is needed to make our neighbourhoods more liveable truly.”
The Greens will now be compiling the insights and concerns shared at the meeting and advocating for a holistic traffic strategy that benefits all of Bath’s communities.
At www.bit.ly/lambridge-updates, residents can share their views in a survey and are asked to share their views with Cllr Rigby at [email protected], copying in their ward councillors.
The statement from Councillor Rigby
“The Bath and North East Somerset Liveable Neighbourhood programme is intended to reduce the impacts associated with excessive traffic in residential areas, such as through traffic, congestion, and speeding, and to create environments where it is easier, safer, healthier, and more attractive to walk, wheel and cycle.
“As you may know, currently 42% of all journeys in Bath are under 3km and in private vehicles, so our aim is to create healthier, safer neighbourhoods where people can choose different ways of getting around if they are able to, reducing the need for those short car journeys, which helps all road users.
“There is wide support in the community and the council to deliver the goals of the Liveable Neighbourhood programme and we are concerned that, without officers or cabinet members in attendance, residents risk coming away with inaccurate or even politicised information about yet to be determined interventions in this area, thus wasting everyone’s time.
“It was made clear before this meeting was publicised when first invited that I and officers would not be in a position to attend on this date. We urge all attendees to participate in the official public engagement programme, which begins in a few weeks.
“The timing of the public engagement programme is important. If this is launched too early, we will not have the detail necessary to be able to present and answer any questions. If launched too late, it could wrongly appear that everything is already agreed.
“Hence, we determined that the correct time to engage is when the officers have done the technical work necessary to determine what solutions could possibly be trialled in order to have the outcome of fewer unnecessary through traffic journeys on residential roads in the area.
“This work is detailed and technical and until it is complete, any discussion remains purely hypothetical.
“The council will arrange formal, structured meetings to thoroughly engage with residents in the New Year.
“A positive outcome from your meeting would be if the ward councillors could supply a sign-up sheet with contact details of all here who would want to be invited to such meetings, when we are in a position to engage meaningfully on the next suite of Liveable Neighbourhood interventions.”
