A new cycle path and crossings could soon lead to a controversial liveable neighbourhood in Bath in a bid to make it more attractive and safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
Looking down Sydney Place, with the LTN restriction in place
Sydney Road was closed to through traffic in April 2024 as part of Bath & North East Somerset Council’s programme of liveable neighbourhoods, also known as low traffic neighbourhoods, or LTNs.
The schemes are intended to stop speeding on residential roads and make them safer and more pleasant for walking and cycling, but some have warned that traffic is just getting displaced to neighbouring roads.
The council decided in February to make the liveable neighbourhood on Sydney Road permanent, and saw off a call-in by opposition councillors.
Now it is asking for comments on plans to build a new raised continuous crossing across New Sydney Place at its junction with the A36 Sydney Place/Darlington Street.
This is a relatively new type of crossing, where the pavement appears to extend across the road. Continuous crossings were installed across some side roads coming off the Upper Bristol Road in 2022.
Meanwhile, a new crossing and shared path for cyclists and pedestrians along part of Beckford Road could connect the north end of Sydney Road to the Kennet and Avon Canal path. This was consulted on as part of the Bath Walking Wheeling and Cycling Links scheme.
The council plans to publish the formal traffic regulation order notice to make the Sydney Road and New Sydney Place Liveable Neighbourhood on 3rd July. But the scheme has been hugely controversial, and more than £7,400 has been raised for a legal challenge from people opposed to closing the road.
1,899 people responded to the consultation on the liveable neighbourhood — with 76% opposed to the scheme, and 24% in favour.
Of the 104 responses from people living on Sydney Road and Sydney Place, 72% were in favour of the scheme; but the 684 respondents living on nearby roads within the trial area were 70% against.
Councillor Joel Hirst, the council’s new cabinet member for sustainable transport strategy, said: “While we are aware of ongoing challenges from a cohort of residents on our decision to make the Sydney Road through-traffic restriction permanent, we are confident that we consulted fairly, thoroughly and legally and that the scheme brings meaningful benefits to those living on the street and to those who use it to walk or cycle safely to nearby schools and the city centre without significant detriment elsewhere.
“It creates fair road space in the area for those that wish to travel actively, and it forms part of our wider Active Travel Masterplan. We will continue with the New Sydney Place/Sydney Road LN programme and residents of Bathwick will be engaged in the next steps by letter.”
The feedback form for the continuous crossing is open until 10th July at 5pm. Comments are only being accepted about the crossing itself, as the consultations on the liveable neighbourhood as a whole and the shared path in the Bath Walking Wheeling and Cycling Links scheme have already been run.
You can submit comments on the plan for the continuous crossing here.
John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter
